Pair of candlesticks
1690–91
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Each: H. 9-1/4 in. (23.5 cm.); L. 5 1/8 in. (13.0 cm.)
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
48.187.249, .250
Art Historical Context
Crafted in Paris around 1690–91 by master silversmith Jacques Demé, this exquisite pair of silver candlest exemplifies the grandeur of late Baroque French decorative arts. Standing at just over 9 inches tall and 5 inches long each, their compact yet elegant form made them ideal for intimate dining tables or private chambers in affluent homes. Demé, a registered Parisian maker, bore the official poinçons (hallmarks) that guaranteed the silver's purity and origin, a hallmark of the guild-regulated luxury trade under Louis XIV. During the Sun King's reign, silver objects like these were symbols ...