Pair of Blackmoor-style candlesticks; Venice, second half of the 19th century.

Pair of Blackmoor-style candlesticks; Venice, second half of the 19th century.
Carved and polychrome wood.
They show signs of restoration and some damage.
Measurements: 220 x 52 x 52 cm; 214 x 52 x 52 cm.
Inspired by idealized African models, these sculptures belong to the category known as “Black Moors” or “Moretti,” one of the most unique and sumptuous creations of European decorative arts. Originating in 17th-century Baroque Venice, these figures became extraordinarily widespread among royal courts and grand aristocratic residences. During the 19th century, historicism revived this tradition, reinterpreting it with a renewed taste for exoticism and decorative luxury.
These sculptures demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship. Carved, polychromed, and gilded, they reveal extraordinary attention to detail: the fluidity of the figures’ anatomy, the dynamism of their poses, the meticulously rendered hair, the richness of the brocades, the depth of the folds, and the delicate depiction of the cushions all demonstrate the skill of a first-rate sculptor. The polychromy, far from being limited to a superficial finish, masterfully recreates the appearance of rich Oriental fabrics through complex ornamental motifs that enrich the surface of the carving. Although inspired by Baroque models, the figures incorporate features characteristic of the Neoclassical style, evident in the elegance of their proportions, the serenity of their faces, and the lightness of their movements—qualities that lend the ensemble a refined formal harmony.
Beyond their decorative function, these sculptures reflect the European taste for the exotic—a fascination that found in the East and Africa an idealized world associated with luxury, sophistication, and refinement. During the Romantic period, this iconography gained new momentum by evoking a legendary and cosmopolitan Venice, a symbol of artistic splendor that the nineteenth century admired and reinterpreted.