Miniature mug 1685 - 1715

This miniature mug was crafted in the late 17th or early 18th century by David Clayton, rendered in gleaming silver. Consider the mug as a vessel. Historically, vessels represent not only containment but also the nurturing, life-sustaining properties of water and sustenance. The form of this mug, with its simple lines and curved handle, evokes the continuous cycle of giving and receiving, a symbolic gesture seen across cultures in libation rituals. Think back to ancient Greek kylixes, or ceremonial chalices of the medieval era, and you'll observe similar shapes designed for communal drinking, all reinforcing the idea of shared experience. Here, the metal suggests a primal connection to the earth, mirroring humanity's enduring relationship with the natural world. Such symbols resurface throughout history, continually evolving yet rooted in our deep, subconscious need for connection and nourishment. The echoes of such forms engage us on a deep, almost instinctual level.