Bougeoir Mouchette et Porte Mouchette, Plateau avec bougeoir et paire de mouchettes, (1730-1735), 6th Plate
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-212-26-b
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier (1695–1750), a visionary Italian-born French designer, goldsmith, and architect, created *Bougeoir Mouchette Porte Mouchette, Plateau bougeoir et paire dechettes* (c. 1730–1735; dated 1740) during the height of the Rococo era. This exquisite metalwork piece, the "6th Plate" from a series of designs, features a candle holder (bougeoir), snuffers (mouchette and a matching tray—elegant tools for tending candle flames in opulent 18th-century interiors. Meissonnier's flair for asymmetry, scrolling motifs, and playful ornamentation epitomized Rococo's shift from Baroque grandeur to lighter, more intimate luxury. As a master of the French *menuiserie* and metal arts, Meissonnier influenced Europe's decorative arts through engraved design books like his 1748 *Œuvres*, which popularized such functional yet sculptural objects. Likely crafted in silver or gilt bronze (medium under study), this set reflects the era's obsession with refined domesticity among the aristocracy, where even candle maintenance became a statement of taste. Acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum via its Advisory Council, it highlights transatlantic appreciation for French elegance. Though research continues, the piece invites us to imagine candlelit salons alive with Meissonnier's whimsical genius, bridging utility and high art. (198 words)