Pair of candlesticks 1773 - 1783

Editor: Right, next up, we have a pair of silver candlesticks, crafted sometime between 1773 and 1783 by Matthew Fenton and Co. I am drawn to how meticulously detailed each curve and face seems to be, and I was wondering what stands out to you most about this pair of rococo candlesticks? Curator: These candlesticks represent more than just illumination. Consider the silver itself: its extraction, the labor involved in its refinement, the craft of shaping it into these elegant forms. These were luxury goods. To possess these, one needed to command considerable resources, demonstrating a participation in specific networks of global trade and labor relations. Editor: So you are saying the material, the silver, has an impact that goes far beyond aesthetics? Curator: Exactly. Silver mining was an incredibly exploitative industry. These weren’t just beautiful objects; they represented wealth extracted through complex and often brutal means. Think about the division of labor inherent in their production too: from the miners to the designers, the silversmiths to the merchants, each playing a role in their creation and distribution. What sort of person would possess such a conspicuous item? Editor: So they reveal something about societal structure, perhaps a widening divide in wealth? Curator: Precisely! The Rococo style itself, with its ornamentation and excess, can be seen as reflecting the values of the aristocracy at the time. The means of production were often hidden from view, masking the true cost behind these objects. Considering all this encourages us to think critically about consumption and its impact. Editor: I hadn't considered the labor that went into creating something like this, or how reflective it is of class structure. I will have to view material objects more critically. Thanks for this insight. Curator: Absolutely. It is a valuable way of approaching decorative objects!