Six branch candlesticks by Van de Velde - MRAH
Address Cinquantenaire Park 10
City/Neighborhood Brussels
Style(s)
- Art Nouveau
- Floral Art Nouveau
Original use
- Work of Art
Année 1899
Architect(s) and/or artist(s)
- Van de Velde Henry
Remarkable elements
- Ironwork
- Sculpture
Presented for the first time at the Viennese Secession exhibition in Munich in 1899, the 6-branch candlestick caused a sensation.
It was created by Henri Van de Velde for a German count, Harry Kessler, a great patron, who ordered this pair of candlesticks from him.
Van de Velde was at the time an artist more than an architect, painting, fabrics, furniture, he was very creative and very talented.
For Van de Velde, it was very difficult work, which took him four months to design, then two years to manufacture! The artist made many trips to Germany to direct the performance.
There are currently five copies kept in different museums, a pair of which is at the MRAH, in the reproduction of the Wolfers store.
The candlestick of a rare elegance, is only fluid lines which play remarkably with the light, measures 59cm high and is in silver metal.
It is said that the inspiration came to him from a chocolate fountain observed in a window in Leipzig, of which he wanted to reproduce the fluidity (according to the diary of Mr Kessler, in 1900).
BRU73 - Unless otherwise stated © www.admirable-artnouveau.be for all photos