Getty Museum

Candelabrum with a Dancer

Date

500–450 B.C.

Medium

Bronze

Culture

Etruscan

Department

Implements

Institution

Getty Museum

One of a nearly identical pair, this candelabrum is surmounted by a statuette of a "krotalistris," a male youth dancing and playing krotala (castanets). The candle-holder is supported on a tripod base formed by three lion's legs on a round pedestal, the junctions between them decorated by pendant palmettes with a drop at the end of each petal. The upper part of the base is ornamented in low relief with a pattern of smaller palmettes combined with studded volutes. The tapering shaft rises above a series of four moldings. The shaft is fluted, except at the lower end, where it is smooth and incised with four overlapping rows of a feather pattern. It is topped by a disk decorated with various patterns. Above this are more patterns and disks, and four projecting curved, faceted branches ending in lotus-shaped prickets. Atop this is a circular base, upon which stands a dancing youth. He wears a short chlamys (mantle) draped over his shoulders, which falls to either side of his nude torso in zigzag folds. Standing with his weight on his right leg, his left flexed and touching the ground with his toes. In each hand, which are raised above his shoulders, he holds krotala to accompany his dancing. The youth has short cropped hair fringing his forehead and large almond-shaped eyes. His head is turned to the right.

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