Raymond Ruys (1886-1956)


Pair of Four Light Candelabra circa 1930for Delheid Frères, Belgium, in the 'African Style', martelé silver, individually numbered sconces and drip pans, marked 'R.Ruys' and '950'height 6 1/4in (15.8cm); diameter 8 1/3in (20.4cm)gross weight 75.2oz (2,132gr)
|The firm of Ruys, a jewelry shop located in Antwerp, was founded in 1854 by Jacques Ruys. In 1919 he was succeeded by his son Raymond Ruys, and it was under his management that the firm began selling silver objects in the Art Deco style. Ruys's reputation as a designer reached a peak in 1930 when he produced 48 unique works of art in silver for the Antwerp World's Fair. Each was executed by the silversmith Raymond Delheid, and took inspiration from the exotic discoveries from the Belgian Colonial Empire that occupied central and southern Africa.This pair of candelabra were originally grouped with the 'Zaire Centerpiece' that is currently part of the collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City, Missouri (accession no.2002.4)