Candlestick
ca. 1300 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Candlesticks like this are known as travelling candlesticks. They were made in sets, diminishing in size and with hollow spikes so that they could be stacked one on top of the other. This type of candlestick was made in the second half of the thirteenth and the early fourteenth century. This example includes the Italian arms of the city of Florence, a cardinal of the Orsini family and the Aldobrandini family.
Coats of arms upon such candlesticks were popular as decorative motifs and were probably often purely decorative. A rare set of six stacking candlesticks in the Louvre include the arms of France, Champagne and Turenne, arms frequently used in the production of Limoges enamels. This example includes the Italian arms of the city of Florence, a cardinal of the Orsini family and the Aldobrandini family.
Coats of arms upon such candlesticks were popular as decorative motifs and were probably often purely decorative. A rare set of six stacking candlesticks in the Louvre include the arms of France, Champagne and Turenne, arms frequently used in the production of Limoges enamels. This example includes the Italian arms of the city of Florence, a cardinal of the Orsini family and the Aldobrandini family.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Champlevé enamel, copper |
| Brief description | Copper decorated with coats of arms in champlevé enamel, Limoges, ca.1300 |
| Physical description | Candlestick with champlevé enamel on copper. The object is six sided with a tapering pricket rising from a spreading foot bearing the arms of the city of Florence, a cardinal of the Orsini family and the Aldobrandini; each shield is flanked by two winged monsters on a ground of enamel. This is one of a set, made to fit one into the hollow of another. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Bequeathed by George Salting |
| Object history | Salting Bequest Historical significance: This object can be compared to another 14th century candlestick in the National Museum of Antiquities, Edinburgh. That example includes the arms of England used before 1340, the arms of the Kingdom of Naples and possibly the incorrectly rendered arms of Jacques D'Euse, who was elected Pope John XXII in 1316. |
| Historical context | Candlesticks like this example are known as travelling candlesticks. They were made in sets, diminishing in size, with hollow spikes, so that they could be stacked. This type of candlestick was popular in the second half of the thirteenth and the early fourteenth century. Coats of arms upon such candlesticks were popular and could be purely decorative. A rare set of six stacking candlesticks in the Louvre include the arms of France, Champagne and Turenne, arms frequently used in Limousin production. This example includes the Italian arms of the city of Florence, a cardinal of the Orsini family and the Aldobrandini family. |
| Summary | Candlesticks like this are known as travelling candlesticks. They were made in sets, diminishing in size and with hollow spikes so that they could be stacked one on top of the other. This type of candlestick was made in the second half of the thirteenth and the early fourteenth century. This example includes the Italian arms of the city of Florence, a cardinal of the Orsini family and the Aldobrandini family. Coats of arms upon such candlesticks were popular as decorative motifs and were probably often purely decorative. A rare set of six stacking candlesticks in the Louvre include the arms of France, Champagne and Turenne, arms frequently used in the production of Limoges enamels. This example includes the Italian arms of the city of Florence, a cardinal of the Orsini family and the Aldobrandini family. |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.579-1910 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | July 25, 2007 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
