Silver Sauce Boat c. 1937

This is a drawing of a silver sauce boat, made by Aaron Fastovsky at an unknown date. The drawing itself, rendered in meticulous detail, is a document of design, of intention. Fastovsky was working during a period when industrialization transformed the production of silverware, making such items more accessible to a broader public. This drawing invites us to consider the social life of objects. What does it mean to design an object intended for domestic rituals? The sauce boat itself speaks of dining and hospitality, of social gatherings and shared meals. By drawing attention to the design process, Fastovsky makes us aware of how art and design can elevate the everyday. To better understand this piece, we might delve into design history, exploring pattern books and trade catalogs from the period. We could also research the role of silverware in shaping social interactions, looking into etiquette manuals and cookbooks. Art, after all, is not just about aesthetics; it's about the world in which we live.