Candelabrum (one of a pair)
1767–68
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall (confirmed): 14 3/4 x 10 1/2 x 10 1/2 in., 80.167oz. (37.5 x 26.7 x 26.7 cm, 2272.7g)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
French, Paris
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Catherine D. Wentworth, 1948
Accession Number
48.187.390a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver candelabrum one of a matching pair crafted by Parisian silversmith Robert Joseph Auguste 1767–68, captures the grandeur of late Louis XV France. Standing 14¾ inches tall with a substantial 80-ounce weight, it was designed for opulent interiors, where pairs like these flanked tables or mantels to cast a warm, flickering glow during evening gatherings. Auguste's mastery as a warden of the Paris guild reflects the era's pinnacle of metalwork craftsmanship. In 18th-century Paris, silver objects symbolized aristocratic wealth and refinement, often commissioned for royal or no...