Description:

South America, Spanish Colonial Period, Bolivia, ca. late 18th century CE. A pair of tremendous silver candlesticks, tall and heavy, with delightful tiered bases and legs composed of multiple pieces fitted together. Both are topped by deep cylinders for holding a thick candle; below that is a wide plate for catching wax. These beautiful items are a reminder of the tremendous amount of silver that the Spanish extracted from their New World colonies. In Bolivia, the city of Potosi contained the Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain), the richest silver mine in the world. During the colonial period, Potosi was the largest city in the Western Hemisphere, and home to the Casa de la Moneda, the regional Spanish Imperial mint. The silver from these activities created a class of wealthy Spanish colonists who could have commissioned objects like these candlesticks. Imagine them illuminated by candlelight in a dark space, with the silver shining in the low light. Size of each: 7.65" W x 16.25" H (19.4 cm x 41.3 cm) (Total weight of both: 3.7 kg)

Provenance: private Viscarra collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#124268

  • Condition: Slight deformation of form and patina from age and handling.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

June 29, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000