Summer 1745

This porcelain and bronze candelabra titled ‘Summer’ was created by the Meissen Manufactory in Germany. The figure of ‘Summer’ embodies the rococo style, which privileged lightheartedness and decoration. This aesthetic flourished in eighteenth-century Europe, but it also reflected the social and political life of the time. Meissen porcelain was prized by royalty and the aristocracy, who used it to adorn their palaces and demonstrate their wealth. The figure of ‘Summer’ holds a sheaf of wheat, a classical signifier of abundance. Meanwhile, the candelabra form points to the ritualized leisure activities of the upper classes, from elaborate dinners to masked balls. To understand this object, we might consider sources such as court documents, trade records, and fashion plates, which can show the economic systems, social hierarchies, and cultural values that shaped its creation and use.