Candlestick c. 20th century

Curator: Looking at this ivory candlestick, created by H. Schlaghecke, the first thing that strikes me is its rather haunting elegance. Editor: Haunting? It reminds me of a miniature, stylized jungle gym! It's so small too, only about five inches tall. Curator: Indeed. The deer motif immediately places it within traditions of nature reverence, and perhaps even sacrifice. Deer often symbolize gentleness and vulnerability, qualities heightened by the use of ivory. Editor: The way the deer are abstracted is fascinating. It almost feels like you're meant to see them in motion, a frozen dance in the candlelight. Curator: Perhaps the light cast would play with the shadows, animating the deer in a continuous ritual. Editor: It's like a tiny world of symbols captured in this one object. Curator: A world we can all hold in our hands, figuratively speaking.