Pricket Candlestick

Carved by a folk craftsman, this candlestick was intended for a church interior and was used as a liturgical object near an iconostasis, an altar, or processional icons. The compositional design of the artwork is integrated and built on the principle of ascending growth – from a massive support to a light, elongated shaft topped with a metal pricket for a candle. The silhouette of the candlestick is laconic, balanced, and at the same time distinctly plastic. The base of the candlestick is a three-lobed support, with three rounded lobes radiating from the centre. Their rounded, soft volumes provide the artwork with stability and monumentality. The shape of the pedestal demonstrates a tendency towards the simplification of form, characteristic of folk carving, where volume prevails over detail. From the centre of the base rises a shaft divided by a sequence of turned and carved elements. The upper part is formed by a baluster-like widening with a smooth profile that tapers upwards, forming subtle flared rims. This sequence of decorative elements creates an expressive rhythm and clearly structures the object. The colour scheme of the candlestick is built on a limited yet rich palette of red and blue tones. The polychromy is partially lost, but despite the passage of time, it remains distinct. The overall form and carved details are well-preserved. Signs of age lend the cult object authenticity and emphasise its rich history. The candlestick is characterised by a simplified form and expressive profiled plasticity interpreted in a laconic folk style.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery