Candelabra (One of a Pair) c. 1860

This wrought iron candelabra, one of a pair, was created by William White, likely toward the end of the 19th century. Standing almost 140 cm high, its dominant visual experience comes from its dark materiality which is interrupted by red and green paint along the stem, base, and arms. The candelabra can be viewed through the lens of structuralism, where design elements become signs within a semiotic system. The structure's tripartite arrangement, base, stem, and the multiple candle arms, establish a hierarchy of symbolic order. The stem, decorated with a spiral pattern, suggests growth and transformation, while the base with its recurring curves and floral motifs, grounds the structure. These elements are not merely decorative, but communicate cultural values of stability, growth and nature. The candelabra, in its synthesis of form and decoration, provides a moment to consider how functional objects can embody layers of cultural meaning, and open up avenues for ongoing interpretation.