Fredrikson Stallard | Vendôme Candelabra Set – White Bronze

The statuesque, towering forms of Vendôme, a series of candlesticks, convey a raw, elemental presence and a sense of immediacy in the creative process. The primitive qualities of hand-formed, malleable clay, captured and transformed into solid bronze, imbue the works with a timeless permanence, juxtaposing the fleeting gestures of their creation. This fusion of material and method resonates with contemporary sensibilities.

Sculpturally dynamic, the pieces reflect the artist's deliberate inclusion of traces of movement, creating elegant forms that are both imposing and figurative. There is a sense that, during the making, the artist paused abruptly, leaving behind unfinished cuts, tool marks, and remnants of clay scattered at the base—elements that will endure in bronze. The organic contours of the base are trimmed with two straight edges, suggesting the beginning of an eventual life beyond sculpture as a functional object. This moment in time transcends the object itself, offering a window into the creative process within the artist’s studio and adding an extra layer of authenticity to the final bronze works.

Vendôme, emblematic of Fredrikson Stallard’s atelier, challenges the conventional notion of material as something merely shaped, instead embracing it as a core medium of artistic expression. The duo’s unique ability to infuse rawness with a sense of classical sophistication distinguishes their work in the contemporary design landscape.