Blaker, gedraaid van hout, met geprofileerd handvat
ca. 1675 - ca. 1700
Medium
maple (wood)
Dimensions
0.9; 2.9; 1.43
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
height 0.9 cm x length 2.9 cm x width 1.43 cm
Art Historical Context
This delicate wooden candle holder, known as a blaker, was crafted around 1675–1700 from fine-grained maple wood using a lathe. The small object, measuring just under a centimeter in height, features a turned body and a profiled handle that reflects the careful attention to both function and subtle ornamentation typical of everyday household items in the Dutch Republic during this period. Maple was prized by woodturners for its smooth texture and ability to hold intricate shapes, allowing artisans to create elegant profiles even on such a miniature scale. Anonymous makers like the one who produced this piece contributed to a thriving craft tradition that supplied practical lighting accessories for homes across the Netherlands. Though modest in size, the blaker offers a glimpse into 17th-century domestic life, where even utilitarian objects received thoughtful design. Its survival highlights the durability of well-turned wood and the value placed on skilled handcraft during the Dutch Golden Age.
About the Artist
anonymous
In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...