Pair of candlesticks 1731

These candlesticks were created in New York, most likely in the 1730s or 40s, by Abraham Ten Brinck from silver. Note the prevalence of the shell motif. In Brinck’s time, shells signified pilgrimage and were associated with Saint James. Now, consider the shell's journey through time. As a symbol, it predates Christianity, appearing in ancient Roman art as an emblem of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, often linked to fertility and the sea. This connection to the feminine divine is a crucial part of its symbolic evolution. Think of Botticelli's Venus emerging from a shell, an image brimming with rebirth. The persistence of the shell symbolizes the deep-seated human need for connection with nature. It reveals the long-term psychological impact of objects, engaging viewers on a profound level. The shell's journey—from pagan symbol to Christian emblem and beyond—shows us the enduring power of images, constantly evolving and adapting across cultures and epochs.