Jan van Nouhuys is a leading figure in Dutch contemporary silver. He is a founder member of the group, Zilver in Beweging (Silver in Motion) which seeks to explore and evolve new expressive forms in silver, making it once again a valid, innovative artistic medium which is relevant to contemporary needs. The group develops its ideas informally through meetings and workshops, often with international colleagues or more formally through lectures and exhibitions. High quality craftsmanship is an important objective but equal emphasis is given to the originality of the artistic concept. But this does not mean that historic precedent is ignored although historical revivalism is shunned. Van Nouhuys freely admits to admiring the highly individual 'auricular' style of the Van Vianen family who were famous 17th century Utrecht goldsmiths. He has succeeded with this pair of candlesticks in reinterpreting this extravagantly fluid style in a thoroughly modern and idiomatic manner.

Born in Amersfoort, Jan van Nouhuys trained as a goldsmith at the at the Middelbare Technische School, Vakschool Schoonhoven (1968-71). From 1971 to 1974 he worked as a goldsmith in The Hague, after which he worked for several major silversmiths in London. Between 1976 and 1978 he ran his own studio in the Hague, and then returned to Schoonhoven, where he has been teaching at his former school and running his own highly successful studio.