Figure mounted as a candelabrum (one of a pair) 1725 - 1755

This porcelain candelabrum was made at the Saint-Cloud factory in France, some time between 1693 and 1766. It brings together the traditions of European metalwork and the fashion for Asian porcelain. The figures reflect the European fascination with chinoiserie, a style which used fanciful, stylized imagery loosely based on Chinese motifs. By the eighteenth century, Asian porcelain was highly prized in Europe, and European manufacturers sought to imitate it. The Saint-Cloud factory was one of the first to succeed. These candelabra were luxury goods, made for an aristocratic clientele. Their images of Asian figures speak to the global trade networks that were emerging at this time, and the growing European interest in the cultures of the East. As art historians, we look at factors such as trade, social class, and artistic exchange to better understand the cultural values reflected in this piece.