Set of four candlesticks

Art Historical Context

Step into the elegant world of 18th-century British silvercraft with this exquisite set of four candlesticks, crafted by George Wickes, a leading London silversmith, between 1741 and 1742. Standing at a graceful 8⅞ inches (22.5 cm) tall, these silver pieces hail from the height of the Georgian era, when finely wrought metalwork adorned the tables and mantels of affluent homes. Wickes, whose workshop held a royal warrant and later evolved into the famed Asprey jewelers, was renowned for his meticulous craftsmanship, blending functionality with subtle opulence. Silver candlesticks like these were more than mere illuminators; they were symbols of refined taste and social standing in London's burgeoning merchant class and aristocracy. Produced during the reign of George II, they reflect the period's shift toward lighter, more playful Rococo influences while retaining classic proportions. The medium of silver—prized for its luster and durability—demanded expert chasing, engraving, and hallmarks, techniques that elevated everyday objects to art. Today, this treasured set graces the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department, a generous 1970 gift from Irwin Untermyer. It invites us to imagine candlelit dinners in grand Georgian drawing rooms, where light danced across polished silver, casting a warm glow on conversations of empire and enlightenment.