Pair of candlesticks (part of a toilet service)
1736–37
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Height (each): 4 5/8 in. (11.7 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
48.187.255a, b, .256a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite pair of silver candlest, crafted in Paris around 1736–37 by the enigmatic silversmith J.M., forms part of a luxurious *toilet service*—a vanity set designed for the intimate rituals of dressing among the French aristocracy. Dating to the height of the Rococo period under Louis XV, these diminutive pieces (just 4⅝ inches tall) reflect the era's delight in elegant, playful ornamentation, where everyday objects became miniature sculptures of refinement. Masterfully wrought in silver, the candlesticks showcase the virtuoso techniques of Parisian metalwork, likely featuring chased a...