Pair of Candlesticks

c. 1906

Robert Riddle Jarvie
American, 1865–1941
Chicago

In 1900 Robert Riddle Jarvie began advertising himself as “the Candlestick Maker.” He produced 16 different designs, each named after a Greek letter. These elongated candlesticks take inspiration from natural flower forms, reflecting the influence of the English Arts and Crafts movement. Jarvie also fashioned hollowware reminiscent of medieval forms and incorporated spare, geometric ornament and Celtic-inspired script into his designs.

Status: On View, Gallery 179
Department: Arts of the Americas

Artist: Robert Riddle Jarvie
Title: Pair of Candlesticks
Place: Chicago (Object made in)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: c. 1906
Medium: Silver-plated bronze
Inscriptions: Engraved in script on base of one candlestick: Jarvie / I
Dimensions: Each: 33 × 17.8 cm (13 7/8 × 7 1/4 in.)
Credit Line: Bessie Bennett and Mrs. Herbert Stern funds
Reference Number: 1973.377-378

David A. Hanks, “Robert R. Jarvie, Chicago Silversmith,” Bulletin of the Art Institute of Chicago 68, 3 (May–June 1974), 15–19 (ill.).
David A. Hanks, “Robert R. Jarvie, Chicago Silversmith,” Magazine Antiques 110, 3 (Sept. 1976), 522–23, fig. 1.
Patricia Patton, “The Work of Robert Riddle Jarvie: American Arts and Crafts Metalsmith” (M.A. thesis, Cooper–Hewitt Museum/Parsons School of Design, 1991), no. 11.
Elyse Zorn Karlin, “The Arts and Crafts Jewelry Movement in Europe” (Schiffer, 1992), ill.
Judith A. Barter, “The Prairie School and Decorative Arts at the Art Institute of Chicago” Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies 21, 2 (1995), 112–133, cat. 23 (ill.)
Elyse Zorn Karlin, “Jewelry and Metalwork in the Arts and Crafts Tradition,” (Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 2004, 2nd ed.), 241 (ill.).
Judith A. Barter et al., American Arts at The Art Institute of Chicago: From Colonial Times to World War I (Chicago: The Art Institute of Chicago, 1998), 309–311, no. 158.
Judith A. Barter, Elizabeth McGoey, et al., American Silver in the Art Institute of Chicago (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2016), cat. 75.
Elizabeth McGoey, ed., American Silver in the Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago, 2018), https://publications.artic.edu/americansilver/reader/collection/section/6, cat. 75 (ill.).
Barbara Schnitzer, “The Lives and Times of Three Chicago Metalsmiths,” The Art Institute of Chicago, Oct. 13, 2020, https://www.artic.edu/articles/869/the-lives-and-times-of-three-chicago-metalsmiths, (ill.).

Art Institute of Chicago, Apostles of Beauty: Arts and Crafts from Britain to Chicago, Nov. 7, 2009–Jan. 31, 2010, cat. 60 (ill.).

Macklowe Gallery, New York City, by 1973; sold to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1973.

Cat. 75 Candlesticks, c. 1906

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Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

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