Hoedenspeld van Perzisch maskeradekostuum 1913

This hat pin was made for a Persian masquerade costume, and though we don’t know when or by whom, it is a beautiful example of process-oriented craft. The creator's skill is apparent in the way they worked with the medium, probably hammering it out or using molds to create the shape. The pin is constructed with a bulbous head attached to a long, sinuous stem. The metal has a warm, brassy tone that catches the light, but also shows darker spots here and there. This is not a pristine, untouched surface; rather, it bears the marks of age and use, which makes it all the more interesting, like an old penny. Look closely at the connection between the bulb and the stem and you can almost see the careful adjustments that were made to bring the two parts together. It reminds me a bit of some of the work of Brancusi, but in miniature form, showing us how the simplest materials can be transformed into something special.