Kandelaar van zilver met achthoekige voet en achthoekige balustervormige stam met kaarsenhouder. Gegraveerd met rocaillemotieven. 1752

This is a silver candlestick with an octagonal base and baluster-shaped stem, made by Louis de Haan. Look closely, and you'll see delicate rocaille motifs engraved into the surface. Silverwork like this involves a range of skilled processes. The candlestick would have been formed by hammering, and likely using molds to create its elegant shape. The chasing and engraving would have been done by hand. Consider the labour involved in extracting, refining, and forming the silver; this was highly specialized work. The result is an object of considerable presence, both heavy and gleaming. Silver has always been a precious material, symbolizing status. But it's also worth remembering the hands that shaped it, and the social context that gave it value. By focusing on the making and materiality, we get a richer sense of this beautiful object.