Altaarkandelaar 1710

This altar candlestick was made by Christiaan Warenberg, sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries, in silver. What strikes me is that the material, silver, is really doing a lot of the work here. It's inherently reflective, so even the most detailed areas are easy to see. Silver also has a kind of preciousness, which obviously suits the candlestick's intended purpose. Its malleability allows for incredible detail: each leaf and flourish has been meticulously rendered, likely by a master silversmith employing techniques of chasing and repoussé. But, of course, all this work has a social implication. Silver was a commodity tied to extraction, trade, and ultimately, wealth. The high level of skill indicates significant investment in training. So, this candlestick isn't just an object of beauty. It's a material record of its time.