Candlestick (one of a pair)

This candlestick and its mate take full advantage of the brilliant, reflective quality of lead glass. The rings, the ribs on the domed foot, the faceted aspect of the stems, and the balls containing air bubbles were all designed to catch the light. When holding a burning candle in the dim interiors of the 18th century, this piece of glass must have glistened beautifully. If desired, cut decoration could also be applied to this model. For example, the bases on a pair at the Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York, are cut with scallops and facets (Klein 1984, 144). Occasionally, such cut decoration was added to bases at a later date to disguise chips around the foot rim.

"Decorative Arts Highlights from the Wendy and Emery Reves Collection," page 88