Candlestick (Ecclesiastical) 1938

Editor: So, here we have "Candlestick (Ecclesiastical)" created in 1938 by Harry Mann Waddell, rendered in colored pencil and watercolor. It’s…well, it's certainly peculiar! The color palette feels almost like it’s trying to be playful, but the object itself appears so formal, almost severe. What jumps out at you when you look at it? Curator: Peculiar is a good word! For me, it whispers of secrets. That little keyhole on the side transforms a simple candlestick into something more. A reliquary, perhaps, or a vessel for untold stories whispered in the soft glow of candlelight. The architectural form itself – do you see how it echoes both a classical column and a stage for something? What’s the artist trying to elevate, I wonder? Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn’t considered the 'secrets' angle. I was too busy trying to reconcile the clashing pastel shades with such a rigid geometric shape. Does the ecclesiastical title give you a clue? Curator: Absolutely. "Ecclesiastical" places it firmly in the realm of ritual, tradition, and possibly, hidden meanings known only to the initiated. But Waddell's quirky palette undercuts the seriousness; like a cleric with a twinkle in their eye. Almost like he's inviting us to question the very things we hold sacred, but with gentle playfulness. Don't you think? Editor: I suppose so! I get what you mean about questioning – it definitely complicates the message. It feels less about pious devotion, more like a whimsical wink. Curator: Precisely! Maybe Waddell wanted to create a bit of magic in the everyday, a little enigma disguised as a candlestick. Editor: Well, I definitely won’t look at candlesticks the same way again.