Single-Branched Candlestick
unknown folk craftsman
Basic information
- ID
- С-I-1303
- Author
- unknown folk craftsman
- Name
- Single-Branched Candlestick
- Date of creation
- 18th c.
- Country
- Ukraine
- Culture
- Folk
- Technique
- carving
- Material
- wood
- Dimensions
- 147.3 x 42 x 42 cm (height x width x depth)
Additionally
- Type
- decorative and applied arts
- Genre
- religious
- Provenance
- Besidy village, Lviv region
- Exposition
- Olesko Castle
Information about author
Object description
The masters who constructed churches always took into account the quantity and duration of natural light within the building's interior. Frequently, to heighten a sense of mystery beyond human comprehension, they deliberately sought to limit daylight, adding a mystical quality by employing candlelight during divine services. The widespread use of artificial illumination within temples fostered the emergence of fixtures diverse in both typology and design. In church tradition, these are conventionally divided into "portable" and "stationary" light.
The presented single-branched wooden floor pricket candlestick typologically belongs specifically to the category of "stationary light". Its architectonic structure tapers upwards. The lower section comprises a massive tripod base adorned with carved volutes and scrolls. Upon each projection of the tripod, the master realistically carved the head of a cherub, whose faces are endowed with individual, somewhat naive features. The central shaft consists of alternating turned figurative elements. The primary focus of the artwork's compositional layout is the sculptural depiction of a young man holding a book in his right hand. The proportions of his body are somewhat conventional, with an emphasis on the enlarged head and expressive face, a trait characteristic of Ukrainian Folk Baroque plastic art. Situated in the upper section of the candlestick is a nozzle that served as a socket for securing a massive candle.
The colour scheme of the piece is built upon the contrast of restrained yet rich tones: deep blue, terracotta-red, muted green, and white. This combination of colours evokes a sense of solemnity that harmonised with the twilight of the church interior. The single-branched floor candlestick unites features of Ukrainian Baroque and professional Folk carving of the 18th century. The artwork stands as a prime example of the imagination of contemporary masters, who transformed a utilitarian item of church decoration into a complex theological and artistic allegory.
The presented single-branched wooden floor pricket candlestick typologically belongs specifically to the category of "stationary light". Its architectonic structure tapers upwards. The lower section comprises a massive tripod base adorned with carved volutes and scrolls. Upon each projection of the tripod, the master realistically carved the head of a cherub, whose faces are endowed with individual, somewhat naive features. The central shaft consists of alternating turned figurative elements. The primary focus of the artwork's compositional layout is the sculptural depiction of a young man holding a book in his right hand. The proportions of his body are somewhat conventional, with an emphasis on the enlarged head and expressive face, a trait characteristic of Ukrainian Folk Baroque plastic art. Situated in the upper section of the candlestick is a nozzle that served as a socket for securing a massive candle.
The colour scheme of the piece is built upon the contrast of restrained yet rich tones: deep blue, terracotta-red, muted green, and white. This combination of colours evokes a sense of solemnity that harmonised with the twilight of the church interior. The single-branched floor candlestick unites features of Ukrainian Baroque and professional Folk carving of the 18th century. The artwork stands as a prime example of the imagination of contemporary masters, who transformed a utilitarian item of church decoration into a complex theological and artistic allegory.
Legal regulation
Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery
