Candelabrum (one of a pair) 1740 - 1755

This is a porcelain candelabrum, one of a pair, made by the Meissen Manufactory. It's a telling example of the 18th-century European fascination with Asian cultures, known as "chinoiserie." At its center stands a figure of a child, rendered in the image of an Asian boy, adorned with flowers. The figure is idealized, reflecting European perceptions rather than authentic representation. What does it mean to take another culture's image and mold it to fit one's own desires and fantasies? These objects were luxury items, meant for display in the homes of the wealthy. They speak to the power dynamics inherent in trade and colonialism. As we gaze upon this object, let's consider the complex histories of cultural exchange and the gaze through which we perceive one another.