Candelabra c. 19th century

Editor: This dazzling candelabra, from around the 19th century and created by the Wedgwood Manufactory, immediately strikes me with its opulent gleam! The combination of silver with that Wedgwood blue...it feels both regal and almost playful. What are your thoughts when you look at this? Curator: Ah, it’s more than just a candelabra, isn't it? It’s a story in layers, light interwoven with cultural echoes. When I see this, I think of grand rooms lit by a hundred flickering flames, reflecting in polished surfaces, tales whispered in hushed tones under the watchful eyes of sculpted figures. And it’s also like a whimsical dream. See that cut glass globe? Makes me think of snow globes…shake it up and let the magic unfold. Editor: A snow globe…I love that! But how does Wedgwood blue, that very distinctive colour, play into this fantasy? It’s so iconic. Curator: It's genius, isn't it? The blue and white provide a grounding to the opulence, referencing classical motifs and grounding it in a certain…seriousness. It's a delicious tension. And think of the contrast! The cool porcelain against the warm glow of candlelight. Tell me, do you find the cherubic figures whimsical or serious? Editor: That’s such a good question. They felt purely decorative at first, but you’re right, their neoclassical style lends them a certain…weight. I think it's both? This piece embodies playful sophistication. Curator: Exactly! It’s about holding both in your hands, like starlight cupped in porcelain. Art invites us to dance with complexities, doesn’t it? Now I wonder where this candelabra was illuminating…the imagination runs wild, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely! Thank you – I'll never look at a candelabra the same way again.