Candlestick
ca. 1450-1550 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
From the 14th until the 17th centuries, brass candlesticks appeared in all but the most prosperous European houses, and were made in forms peculiar to the material.
Socketed candlesticks made their appearance in the late 13th century and gradually replaced the earlier pricket form, at least for domestic use. The earliest sockets were polygonal in cross-section; by the 15th century they were round. At first, two vertical apertures were cut into the socket to facilitate the extraction of the burnt-out stub. Over time these became smaller and by the 15th century they tended to be horizontally cut.
The form of the stem and base of candlesticks at this time is the result of a complicated interplay between two typological currents. The first type naturally evolved from the simple European pricket candlestick, where the shaft is supported on three legs. The second type originated in the Near East and had a high cylindrical or slightly conical base surmounted by a flat circular wax pan and a short circular stem.
Broadly speaking the development of the base can be attributed to Near Eastern influence, while the stem, which gradually became longer, with an increasingly complicated range of knops and balusters, is largely European in origin.
Socketed candlesticks made their appearance in the late 13th century and gradually replaced the earlier pricket form, at least for domestic use. The earliest sockets were polygonal in cross-section; by the 15th century they were round. At first, two vertical apertures were cut into the socket to facilitate the extraction of the burnt-out stub. Over time these became smaller and by the 15th century they tended to be horizontally cut.
The form of the stem and base of candlesticks at this time is the result of a complicated interplay between two typological currents. The first type naturally evolved from the simple European pricket candlestick, where the shaft is supported on three legs. The second type originated in the Near East and had a high cylindrical or slightly conical base surmounted by a flat circular wax pan and a short circular stem.
Broadly speaking the development of the base can be attributed to Near Eastern influence, while the stem, which gradually became longer, with an increasingly complicated range of knops and balusters, is largely European in origin.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Brass, turned |
| Brief description | Brass candlestick with five knops on the stem and two oblong holes in the socket, Flemish, late 15th - early 16th century |
| Physical description | Deep circular moulded foot with spreading base and over-hanging rim; the stem is with five flattened knops; the ribbed socket pierced with two oblong holes. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Lt. Col. G. B. Croft-Lyons Bequest |
| Object history | Croft Lyons bequest, 1926. Historical significance: Candle sockets came into use from the 13th century. Before this period, candlesticks often had prickets to secure the candle. Candlesticks were very much part of home life. They were often made of robust materials such as bronze and brass. This candlestick reflects the fashion for simple shapes from late medieval Germany and Flanders. The height of the candle socket may have been intended to shed more light over the desk or ledge where it stood. The base of the candlestick seems to be well shaped for carrying, suggesting that candlesticks like this example did not stay in one room but were moved about the medieval house. |
| Historical context | This candlestick is an example of Dinanderie, an object in the style of those produced in the city of Dinant and the surrounding area. Dinant is situated on the River Meuse, Belgium, and was an area with an international reputation for the quality of its metalware. Dinanderie is used to describe later medieval objects (pre-1466), cast in copper-alloy (high zinc and lead-level and low tin-level). This term is used for functional and decorative metalwork, for example: hanging lavers, candlesticks and chafing dishes. The Flemish origin of this candlestick is confirmed by the style: a very simple shape with flattened knops. Similar candlesticks can be found in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (K.O.G. 995) |
| Summary | From the 14th until the 17th centuries, brass candlesticks appeared in all but the most prosperous European houses, and were made in forms peculiar to the material. Socketed candlesticks made their appearance in the late 13th century and gradually replaced the earlier pricket form, at least for domestic use. The earliest sockets were polygonal in cross-section; by the 15th century they were round. At first, two vertical apertures were cut into the socket to facilitate the extraction of the burnt-out stub. Over time these became smaller and by the 15th century they tended to be horizontally cut. The form of the stem and base of candlesticks at this time is the result of a complicated interplay between two typological currents. The first type naturally evolved from the simple European pricket candlestick, where the shaft is supported on three legs. The second type originated in the Near East and had a high cylindrical or slightly conical base surmounted by a flat circular wax pan and a short circular stem. Broadly speaking the development of the base can be attributed to Near Eastern influence, while the stem, which gradually became longer, with an increasingly complicated range of knops and balusters, is largely European in origin. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.435-1926 |
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| Record created | January 29, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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