Kandelaber met ramskoppen en sfinxen c. 1875 - 1900

This photograph captures a plaster candelabra with rams’ heads and sphinxes, made by Gustave Eugène Chauffourier. The choice of plaster, a readily available material, speaks to a democratizing trend in art production, allowing for the wider dissemination of classically-inspired designs. Look closely, and you’ll notice the crisp details achieved through the mold-making process. Plaster’s ability to capture fine textures and forms allowed for mass production and widespread consumption of decorative objects like this candelabra. The sphinxes and rams’ heads, rendered with precision, demonstrate the artist’s skill in blending classical motifs with contemporary aesthetics. The photograph itself, a relatively new technology at the time, further expands the dissemination of this design. By understanding the material and process behind this candelabra, we gain insight into the cultural and economic forces shaping artistic production in the late 19th century, blurring the lines between art, design, and industry.