Pair of candlesticks 1750 - 1775

Curator: Here we have a glimpse into the glimmering world of 18th-century decorative arts, specifically, a pair of silver candlesticks dating between 1750 and 1775, currently residing at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. They are believed to be crafted by François II Lacassaigne. Editor: Immediately, they strike me as more stoic than exuberant; each surface, edge, and plane—the octagonal nozzles, truncated pillar shafts, and sloping base—projects an unusual formal solemnity, quite intriguing for Baroque-era artifacts. Curator: Precisely. While the Baroque style is known for ornamentation and flourish, the restrained elegance speaks to the period's later shift towards Neoclassicism, a trend emphasizing simplicity and clean lines. Consider the lack of extravagant embellishment, instead, the piece relies on proportion and silhouette. Editor: Let's not overlook, though, the small foliate appliques interrupting an otherwise sharp progression of polyhedral volumes. They gesture toward the kind of organic naturalism you often find interwoven with period architecture. And I would like to push us to reflect on silver as a substance: ductile, easily wrought to human intention, highly reflective... its luster alone introduces dynamism. Curator: Indeed! It makes one ponder the role these played in a dimly lit, perhaps candle-illuminated, interior. These wouldn’t just be functional, they'd be active agents, bouncing back every flickering ray and shadow! Also, I cannot help but envision them as part of an elaborate dinner setting, maybe near crystalware. What a stunning scene! Editor: Well put. Contemplating silver as material—reflective surfaces responding to, amplifying the subtleties of an interior's glow, geometric profiles catching then throwing light… these qualities alone render any purely representational element of décor inconsequential, as silver's alchemic and reactive properties elevate objects like these into captivating phenomena. Curator: I find myself feeling drawn in by how they seem to temper ornamentation. They bring an elegant refinement and reflect shifting stylistic moods in a tangible way. Editor: Absolutely, objects poised at the intersection of cultural conventions, historical movements, and base materiality—that's where meaning multiplies and new experiences of the world are brought forth.