One of a "Pair of Candlesticks" 1746

Curator: This elaborate silver candlestick was crafted by George Wickes, who lived from 1698 to 1761. It resides here at the Harvard Art Museums as one of a pair. Editor: It’s beautiful, but all that swirling ornamentation feels… excessive, almost oppressive. Curator: The floral motifs and sinuous lines embody the Rococo style. Silverware, particularly candlesticks, were signifiers of wealth and status. The flame it holds transforms a domestic space into a sacred or ceremonial one. Editor: I wonder about the labor conditions. Were the artisans of the time fairly compensated, or were they exploited to create this object for the wealthy elite? Curator: Silver, with its reflective surface, has long been associated with the moon and feminine energy. Candlesticks like these would have illuminated social gatherings, private moments, and spaces of great importance. Editor: And while it projects status, it also silently speaks to the inequalities inherent in a society where such opulence exists alongside poverty. It reflects both light and shadow.