George III Candlestick with Snuffer
Maker
John Allan
(English, ca. 1761 – 1799)
Date1767-1770
MediumSilver
Dimensions3 3/16 x 5 9/16 in. (8.1 x 14.1 cm)
ClassificationsMetalwork
Credit LineGift of Percy R. Everett, 1969
Object numberSN7385
The Neoclassical movement of the mid-18th century influenced decorative arts as well as painting, sculpture, and architecture. This restrained, classical style rejected the heavy ornamentation of the Rococo for simpler, more discrete forms and palettes. Following suit, silver makers preserved the clean lines of an object's profile, introducing flat, mirror-like surfaces often void of heavy ornamentation or incisions. The two George III tureens provide excellent examples of this unadorned style, which relied on the reflection of light off the surface for decoration rather than elaborate embossing or repoussé - two methods of created raised designs on silver. At the same time, a muted version of the Rococo remained popular and coexisted with the Neoclassical style. The two half-pint tankards provide examples of each.
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