Candelabrum (one of a pair)
ca. 1765
Medium
Soft-paste porcelain
Dimensions
wt. confirmed: 13 5/8 in., 7.1 lb. (34.6 cm, 3.2 kg)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
British, Chelsea
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of John L. Cadwalader, 1914
Accession Number
14.58.92
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant candelabrum, of a pair produced by renowned Chelsea Porcelain Manuf around 1765, exemplifies height of 18th-century British porcelain artistry. Chelsea, active from the 1740s to the 1780s, was among England's pioneering factories, specializing in soft-paste porcelain delicate, translucent material made from clay mixed with ground glass that fired at lower temperatures than true hard-paste. This allowed for intricate modeling and vibrant enameling, making pieces like this 13⅝-inch (34.6 cm) candelabrum both functional and luxurious table ornaments. Adorned in the fashionable Chino...
About the Artist
Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory · 1744–1784
**Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory** The Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory, Britain's pioneering porcelain enterprise, was founded around 1743 in Chelsea, London, by two Huguenot silversmiths: Nicholas Sprimont from Liège and Charles Gouyn. Sprimont, trained in Paris as a goldsmith before immigrating to England, brought his expertise in luxury metalwork to the venture, while Gouyn handled early sales th...