07 A Pair of Candlesticks with Lion Feet

TWO PAIRS OF CANDLESTICKS WITH LION FEET

Germany or South Netherlands, probably Nuremberg or Dinant Late 15th/early 16th century

Copper alloy, cast Height: 135 cm

Provenance: Private American collection

Related Literature: Mende, Ursula. Die mittelalterlichen Bronzen im Germanischen Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg 2013. D’Allemagne, Henry-René. Histoire du luminaire depuis l‘époque romaine jusqu‘au XIXe siècle, Paris 1981. Flanders in the Fifteenth Century: Art and Civilization, exh. cat. Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit 1960. This particular form of candlestick is exemplary for Central Europe of the late 15th and early 16th century. Larger examples like ours, visually more impressive and more elaborated, were used as light sources in the residences of noblemen where they served as a sign of taste and prestige, as well as in churches during various ceremonies. Sets of such candlesticks were often arranged in a symmetrical manner around altars and tombs (see figs. 1+2), providing light during services while gracefully complementing the surrounding church decoration.

Our pair of candlesticks, solid and of substantial weight, is in excellent condition. Each candlestick has a straight stem on a circular, hollow, bell-shaped base with a three-step profile. The stems are decorated with three flat knobs and shallow moulded rings. On the top there are high iron prickets (the pricket on one candlestick is a later replacement) above wide, bell-shaped, tapering drip pans. The base of each candlestick is decorated with three lions. With their elegant poses and stylised manes and tails, they were positioned on top of their respective orbs. The motifs of the lion and lion feet were used on candlesticks and other decorative arts objects throughout the 15th and 16th century, as well as in heraldry, and symbolise power, justice and wisdom.

At the time of their production these objects were certainly considered precious items, as casting was a highly specialised craft. They were made to hold expensive beeswax candles; unlike more common and affordable tallow candles, beeswax candles were more appreciated because of their clear bright flame, firmness, slow burning and more pleasant scent.

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Fig. 1. Master of James IV of Scotland (Flemish, before 1465-c.1541), Office of the Dead, circa 1510-20, tempera colours, gold, and ink, Ms. Ludwig IX 18 (83. ML. 114), fol. 185, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. ©

Fig. 3. Pair of Candlesticks with Lion Feet, early 16th century, brass, Flanders or Netherlands(?), inv. no. 54.940; 54.941.

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The high quality workmanship suggests that the candlesticks are of either Dinant or Nuremberg origin. The two cities were leading centres of metalwork production in Europe at the time. Brass foundries were associated with the Netherlandish Meuse region, particularly the town of Dinant, prompting the term ‘dinanderie’ being used for such objects. Due to the Sack of Dinant in 1466 by Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, many of the town’s craftsmen fled to other cities including Nuremberg. As the relationship between Dinant and Nuremberg was very close, the Dinant-style objects made in Nuremberg are also often referred to as dinanderie. It remains difficult to establish with certainty where a particular dinanderie object was made.

Fig. 2. Master of James IV of Scotland (Flemish, before 1465-c. 1541), Office of the Dead, circa 1510-20, tempera colours, gold, and ink, Ms. Ludwig IX 18 (83.ML. 114), fol. 185, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, detail.

Relief with the Head of Saint John the Baptist

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