Kandelaber voor Pasen uit de Sint-Vaastkerk in Gaurain-Ramecroix, opgesteld op een tentoonstelling over religieuze objecten uit de middeleeuwen en renaissance in 1864 in Mechelen before 1866

This image shows a photograph taken by Joseph Maes in 1864, depicting a medieval or Renaissance candelabra. The piece was originally housed in the Sint-Vaastkerk in Gaurain-Ramecroix, and was photographed at an exhibition of religious objects in Mechelen. This candelabra is made of metal, likely bronze or iron, shaped with forging, casting, and chasing. The design is geometric, with a tripartite structure. The base leads to a heraldic shield, with three arms holding candle holders and a spire. The material and methods used to create this object suggest that the candelabra was made by skilled artisans. The labor-intensive nature of metalwork meant that it would have been a costly object, commissioned by wealthy patrons for use in religious ceremonies. By focusing on the material and making of this candelabra, we can begin to appreciate the skill of the artisans who created it. The image prompts us to challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, recognizing the candelabra as a product of skilled labor and cultural values.