Dei Bardi Art

This rare candlestick exemplify exquisite craftsmanship, featuring a bell-shaped base with a flared foot adorned with intricate engraved patterns. The candlesticks bear European coats of arms. Similar candlesticks with blank shields can be found in the Rijksmuseum and the British Museum, indicating a widespread demand for such items in Europe. Merchants likely commissioned these pieces for the open market, allowing buyers to personalize them with their own heraldic symbols. 

The candlesticks reflect the technical innovations of Islamic metalworkers, particularly their advanced use of sand-casting for vessels and three-dimensional forms, a method that predated its widespread adoption in Europe by several centuries.The engraved arabesques, thread-like scrolls, acanthus leaves, and palmettes provide a striking contrast to the coats of arms. 

This combination of Eastern and European influences defines a category of artworks known as Veneto-Saracenic. This term refers to a group of metal vessels produced between the 14th and 16th centuries that blend Middle Eastern craftsmanship with European stylistic features.

These objects are now understood to have been produced in the Near East -particularly Egypt and Syria- specifically for Western clients. These candlesticks serve as rare examples of how Venetian upper bourgeoisie and nobility embraced Orientalist influences during the late Renaissance. They also testify to this fascination and cross-cultural exchange, offering a glimpse into the rich artistic dialogue between East and West.