Design for a Candlestick with Candle Wick Trimmers 1555 - 1565

Erasmus Hornick created this ‘Design for a Candlestick with Candle Wick Trimmers’ on a 5 1/2 by 3 1/8 inch sheet. The composition rises from an ornate circular base, leading the eye upwards to a lit candle flanked by wick trimmers. The precise lines and symmetrical arrangement create a sense of formal elegance, while the detailed engravings on the base suggest narrative depth. Considering the historical context, this design reflects the intricate metalwork popular during the Renaissance, where functional objects often doubled as artistic displays. The classical motifs adorning the candlestick base may allude to themes of enlightenment, with the candle serving as a metaphor for knowledge. Notice how the upward orientation of the design is meant to draw the eye up, and the way it emphasizes both the function and symbolic value inherent in even the most mundane objects of daily life. Through its form, Hornick elevates utility to art, inviting ongoing interpretation.