Design for a Candlestick, Cup, and Vase
Medium
metalwork
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1911-28-66
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Jean-Charles Delaf, a prolific French engr and ornamental designer (173–1789), created this *Design for a Candlestick Cup, and Vase* around 1770. Working in the transitional period between Rococo exuberance and emerging Neoclass, Delafosse specialized in intricate patterns for decorative arts, metalwork. This piece, now in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's metalwork collection, likely served as a blueprint for silversmiths or bronze casters, showcasing his talent for elegant, functional forms adorned with classical motifs. The design reflects the refined aesthetic of Louis XVI-era France,...