Twee kandelaren gedecoreerd met bladmotieven en een vlam before 1884

This photograph by Witz et Cie. depicts two ornate candlesticks decorated with leaves and flames. Although undated, photographs like this were often used for commercial purposes, as a record of products made by the company. In this case, we see examples of metalwork intended for a wealthy clientele, who would have had the resources to decorate their homes in this manner. As such, it shows the way that objects of beauty circulated in society, as indicators of class and taste. If we were to understand it better, research into the archives of the Witz company would be invaluable. Catalogues and account books might tell us how much these cost, and who bought them. We might also research the ways that particular styles of decoration come into fashion, and how these tastes are driven by institutional bodies such as museums and academies.