A Pair of Chinese Export Canton Enamel Candlesticks
China, Qing dynasty, 18th century

A finely painted pair of Chinese export Canton enamel candlesticks of elegant slender form, with spreading circular bases, tapering stems, and gently flared sconces. Each is richly decorated in a bright and harmonious palette of pink, turquoise, yellow, iron red, and blue, the stems reserved with vertical panels of stylised foliate ornament set against finely painted scrolling grounds.

The bases and sconces are enamelled with overlapping lotus petal lappets, shaded in soft pink and white, while turquoise bands at the knops add a further note of contrast and rhythm to the design. The overall effect is both highly decorative and refined, combining the symmetry of the form with the brilliance and delicacy characteristic of Canton enamels.

Objects of this type were made in Guangzhou for export to the West, where they would have brought a rich and exotic accent to the table or mantelpiece. Their form reflects Western candlestick models, while their decoration is entirely shaped by the technical brilliance and colouristic elegance of Chinese enamelwork. As a pair, they are especially appealing, and their finely balanced proportions and vivid palette make them particularly attractive examples of 18th century Chinese export Canton enamel.