Pair of candlesticks; Mexico, possibly Taxco, early 20th century.

Pair of candlesticks; Mexico, possibly Taxco, early twentieth century.
Silver.
With punches.
Measurements: 38 x 35 x 25 cm (x2).
Weight: 4790 g (total).
Pair of three-light candlesticks, possibly from the famous silver center of Taxco. These pieces stand out for their elegant balance between tradition and technical quality. Each candelabra stands on a lobed base of smooth profile, whose undulating contour provides visual stability and a delicate play of light on the polished surface. The shaft, of turned forms, leads the eye towards a central spherical knot that acts as a compositional axis, ending in an upper body from which emerge three curved arms, harmoniously arranged. The softened edges, the saucer-shaped finials and the fluidity of the lines are evidence of careful workmanship and a restrained ornamental sense.
These works dialogue with the long tradition of Mexican silverware, a direct heir of the Novo-Hispanic workshops that flourished during the colonial period. Since the 16th century, the abundance of silver in the viceroyalty, especially in regions such as Zacatecas and Guanajuato, encouraged the development of a sumptuary art of the highest quality, influenced both by European models (Renaissance, Baroque and later Neoclassical) and by the sensitivity and expertise of local artisans. In this context, silverware not only fulfilled utilitarian or liturgical functions, but also stood as a symbol of status and devotion.
In the 20th century, places like Taxco revitalized this legacy, reinterpreting historical forms with a more refined language. This synthesis can be perceived in these candelabras: although they evoke classic models with curved arms typical of the late Baroque, their composition is more sober and balanced, close to a neocolonial taste that sought to recover and stylize the past.