Ontwerp voor een kandelaar (No. 2) 1767 - 1823

This is Abraham Meertens's "Ontwerp voor een kandelaar (No. 2)", a design for a candlestick created sometime between 1747 and 1823. Meertens lived during a time when the Dutch Republic was transitioning from its Golden Age to a period of political and economic challenges. Candlesticks like this weren't just functional, they reflected social status, taste, and access to resources. In a world lit by candlelight, the quality and design of a candlestick spoke volumes. The neo-classical urn shape with draped cloth and tassels suggest wealth and refined taste. The precise draftsmanship speaks to an understanding of design principles. Looking at this design, one wonders about the lives touched by the light it would have cast. What conversations, what secrets, what moments of quiet reflection did it illuminate? This drawing then is not just a design, but a witness to the intimate moments of the past.