A pair of unusually tall Gothic candlesticks

44 - A pair of unusually tall Gothic candlesticks

South German, probably Nuremberg, early 16th century cm Brass. The grease pans of inverted bell-shape cast separately from knobbed stem. Squat bell-shaped base. Iron prickets. Minimal restored. Tropfschale mit innen vernieteter Eisenplatte und spitz zulaufendem Eisendorn. Mit dem 68.5 cm high Öllampen in der Antike, wurden Metallleuchter zum wichtigsten Beleuchtungsgerät. Seit etwa By the middle of the 15th century this form of candlestick characterised by large baluster moulding, hollow base and high pricket (a spike onto which the candle was placed) had become very popular in Europe. These brass candlesticks were cast in a two-piece mould, with the base left hollow. They were then turned on a lathe to remove excess metal and to finish off the surface. Their substantial height and heavy, solid construction made them very suitable for lighting domestic interiors. The very tall versions were frequently used as altar candlesticks, since they looked very imposing at a distance. Candlesticks of this form were manufactured in one of the great brass-making centres of 15th and 16th-century Europe, such as Nuremberg in Germany. Judging from the number that have survived, they were made in large quantities and widely exported. These candlesticks would have been expensive items when they were made and would have been almost certainly used with beeswax candles. In the 15th century candles were made from tallow - animal fat - or beeswax. Beeswax was much more expensive but burned with a clear, bright flame, did not smell and melted comparatively slowly. large baluster moulding, hollow base and high pricket (a spike onto which the candle was placed) had become very popular in Europe. These brass candlesticks were cast in a Literatur: W. Dexel: Deutsches Handwerksgut, Berlin 1939, 246. H. P. Lockner: Die Merkzeichen der Nürnberger Rothschmiede, München 1981, 10-21. H. P. Lockner: Messing, München 1982, 162-171. M. Eberle: Bestandskatalog der Sammlung unedler Metalle, Museum für Kunsthandwerk, Grassimuseum Leipzig, Leipzig 1996, 65 und 71. O. A. Baumgärtel: Wie erkennt man Nürnberger Messinggerät?, in: Anzeiger des Germanischen Nationalmuseums, Nürnberg 2002, 177-187, Abb. 1. (nahezu formidentischer Scheibenleuchter mit der Hausmarke des Jörg Lederer aus Nürnberg aus der Zeit vor 1540)

Süddeutsch, wohl Nürnberg, Anfang 16. Jh.

Catalogueprice: 6.000 - 10.000 €

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