Pelican-shaped candlestick, Padua? 17th century

This curious candlestick repeats the composition of an oil lamp housed in the Bode Museum, Berlin: pelican’s arched neck acts as a handle while the candle wick comes from its tail. The original is more complex and enriched with grotesque masks hidden in the plumage. This candlestick greatly simplifies this pattern, but repeats it unequivocally.

There are similar models with some variations in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence, and in the Galleria Estense, Modena. All of these castings are attributed to the Paduan area and were formerly considered works by Andrea Briosco, called Riccio. The beautiful patina and material of this curious object support the attribution to Paduan area of 17th century.