Dr. Martin Rundkvist is a Swedish archaeologist, journal editor, public speaker, skeptic, atheist, lefty liberal, bookworm, and father of two.
Bronze candlesticks, early 15th century, made in Germany or Flanders. Top: Rute parish, Gotland. Height c. 18 cm. Photograph by R. Hejdström. Below right: Fragment from Tåby parish, Östergötland. Photograph by M.R.
Back in November I checked out the enigmatic Tåby figurine and blogged about it. Now I've found out what it is: it's part of a 15th century candlestick and there's a complete specimen in the Gotland County Museum. The Gotland specimen was kept above ground, in use and in repair from the Middle Ages until recently at a farmstead in Rute parish. Arthur Nordén wasn't aware of it, but wrote of the Tåby figurine, "It is possible, for instance, that it may have served as a decoration on a chandelier, as holder in a candlestick or some such."
- Nordén, Arthur. 1924. Bronsstatyetten från Tåby. En arkeologisk kuggfråga. Fornvännen 19. KVHAA. Stockholm.
- Nylén, Karin. 2003. En medeltida figurstake. Gotländskt Arkiv 2003. Gotland County Museum. Visby.
- Westholm, Gun. 2008. Det goda livet i medeltidens Visby. Gotländskt Arkiv 2008. Gotland County Museum. Visby.
[More blog entries about archaeology, medieval, middleages, candlestick, figurine; arkeologi, medeltiden, ljusstake, figurin.]
Humanities & Social Science
Comments
You can find some more candlesticks like this at larsdatter.com/candleholders.htm -- they're in the section of anthropomorphic candlesticks.
Posted by: Karen | January 20, 2009 11:00 AM
Awesome! Thank you!
Posted by: Martin R | January 20, 2009 11:16 AM
Nifty! It is extremely satisfying to see this little puzzle solved - thank you for the update.
Posted by: PennyBright | January 20, 2009 12:54 PM
Hah! Karen, you get everywhere!
Intereting colour on the bronze on the top candlestick. Are the figures solid, or hollow? I'm trying to re-create bits of medieval technology, and have been reading up on manufacturing methods.
Posted by: guthrie | January 20, 2009 1:53 PM
The figures are solid. Probably cast with cire perdu.
When I showed this entry to a couple of Medievalist colleagues, they said "Of course it's a candlestick. We thought you knew!".
Posted by: Martin R | January 20, 2009 3:49 PM
Guthrie!
You'll find a beautiful little video about medieval aquamanilia casting at http://www.bgc.bard.edu/research/video/research_video_aquamanillia.shtml
These objects are cast hollow around a core, thus a bit more complicated than Martin's candlestick above. But the video itself is very instructive, shedding light on the coring, moulding, casting and finishing processess, as well as on medieval metallurgy and it's close connections to alchemy and philosophy. It's certainly a little pearl!
Cheers, Anders
Posted by: Anders Söderberg | January 20, 2009 4:43 PM
Cool! I hereby retract my suggestion that it could be a roman votive figurine (posted on November 12th, 2008). It is a lovely find and lovely ID. But you should nonetheless include a ruler in you photos, Martin...
Posted by: Tobias | January 20, 2009 5:13 PM
I thought it would be lost wax, but that it is solid is interesting to know.
Anders, thanks for the video, it is very interesting.
Posted by: guthrie | January 21, 2009 2:04 PM
very cool, thanks for the update.
Posted by: megan | January 21, 2009 3:42 PM