Candlestick

Art Historical Context

This elegant brass candlestick, crafted between 1670 and 1700 by an unknown artisan, exemplifies the sturdy yet refined metalwork of colonial America. Standing at 8½ inches tall with a 6⅛-inch diameter base, its simple, baluster-shaped form—likely turned on a lathe—was designed for practical use in dimly lit households, holding a beeswax or tallow candle to illuminate homes before widespread electricity. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this piece reflects the craftsmanship of early American metalsmiths, who often worked with imported brass due to limited local smelti...