MAKER'S MARK ONLY OF HARMANUS NIEUWENHUYS, AMSTERDAM, CIRCA 1760; BACK-PLATES MAKER'S MARK OF T.G. BENTVELT, AMSTERDAM, 1841

The two wall sconces by Harmanus Nieuwenhuys (ca. 1711-1763) presented here are pendants. Each sconce is the exact reverse of the other which is clearly expressed by the positioning of the branches with the candle holders. With their asymmetrical design and floral motives they are typical examples of the Louis-XV style. The original silver back-plates were replaced in 1841 by the Amsterdam silversmith Theodorus Gerardus Bentvelt (1782-1853). Bentvelt did not try to imitate Nieuwenhuys' style, but designed them according to contemporary fashion.

Almost similar wall sconces were manufactured in the 1750s and 1760s by Willem Burger of The Hague, of whom a set of two, dated 1752, is the Treasury of the St. Bavo Cathedral in Haarlem and a set of four, dated 1759 and 1761, is in the collection of the Municipal Museum in Arnhem.
Associated literature:
J.R. de Lorm, Amsterdams Goud en Zilver, Zwolle, 1999, p.523
Exh. Cat., Zilverwerken, Gemeente Museum Arnhem, 1958, No. 82
J.W. Frederiks, Dutch Silver, The Hague, 1958, No. 514
Exh. Cat., Nederlands zilver 1580-1830, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, The Hague, No. 127
See illustration