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Candlesticks, about 1815
Silver
Made in the workshop of Asa Blanchard (American, died 1838), Lexington, Kentucky
Museum Purchase 1956.12.1-.2

Kentucky silversmith Asa Blanchard set up shop in Lexington prior to 1808. Like many early Kentucky settlers, Blanchard came from Virginia. His active business soon prospered and, together with young apprentices, Blanchard turned out a large number of elegant—and ambitious—silver objects. In addition to producing more common silver forms such as beakers and spoons, Blanchard’s workshop created exquisite tea sets, sugar tongs, and these meticulously wrought candlesticks. Complex in shape, with bold rectangular bases and tapered columnar shafts, they are certainly masterpieces of Kentucky silver. They are also extremely rare: in general, candlesticks were not a common form in early American silver and these are, in fact, the only known Kentucky silver candlesticks from this period. When first made, they were objects of great luxury—status symbols befitting their original owner, Isaac Shelby (1750-1826). Shelby, a Revolutionary War hero, was Kentucky’s first governor. He served in this capacity from 1792 to 1796 and again from 1812 to 1816.
Learn more about Young Kentucky History.