Bidspirit auction | Modernist Silver-Plated Two-Branch Candlestick –

Modernist Silver-Plated Two-Branch Candlestick – Designed and Made by Dov Friedlander, Tel Aviv (1930s/40s) - Dov Friedlander – A beautiful two-branch table candlestick of exceptional sculptural presence, made of a metal compound with original silver plating. The candlestick bears on the underside of its stepped base the authentic official maker's mark: ”Friedlander, Made in Eretz Israel.” Dov Friedlander is regarded as one of the pioneers of Modernist metalwork and contemporary Judaica in Mandatory Palestine. Deeply influenced by the ideology of the German Bauhaus school and the International Style, Friedlander translated their principles into decorative and functional objects: ”form follows function.” The design of this candlestick is a direct aesthetic echo of the architecture of the ”White City” of Tel Aviv of that era: it rests on pure geometric lines, a clean composition free of superfluous ornamentation, combining an arched symmetrical arm, a central spherical element, and a circular stepped base — a classic Bauhaus and Art Deco motif. Friedlander's silver-plated works are considered significantly rarer and more sought-after than his standard brass and bronze pieces, and are today held in distinguished private and museum collections in Israel and abroad. In good condition relative to its age. The body of the candlestick is intact, sturdy, heavy, and completely stable, with no fractures, bends, or later solder repairs.  The original silver plating is well preserved and shows light natural abrasions in areas of high friction, exposing some of the base metal and lending the piece a deep authentic appearance. The candlestick is covered in a dark, rich, and beautiful patina; no chemical cleaning or polishing has been performed in order to preserve its historical value. The item is sold as found — the two inner candle cup holders (the small candle sockets that would have rested within the large branches) are missing.  Height: 10.5 cm. Width: 23.5 cm. 160 g.