Set of four Dutch silver candlesticks

This set of four candlesticks was made by Laurens Koster, who was born in Rotterdam in 1775. The candlesticks are circular and fully smooth, while the stems are baluster-shaped, expanding in the middle. They appear surprisingly modern and functional. They are completely smooth apart from some groove borders, applied where they are intended to be held with the thumb, index and middle fingers, so as not to leave fingerprints on the otherwise smooth surface.

It is widely known that Rotterdam silver is strongly influenced by English examples. This is the result of geographic circumstances: Rotterdam’s harbor was in direct contact with England. Traditionally there had been a large colony of English and Scottish merchants in Rotterdam, which had grown so voluminous that Rotterdam was also known as “little London” during the 18th century.

This set of candlesticks by Koster is even more reminiscent of a Viennese model – the development of this shape in Vienna was also directly inspired by the English influence in that city.