Fingerbowl c. 1929 - 1930

Curator: Looking at these ornate silver bowls arranged so precisely… I feel transported. It's almost like stepping into a still life. Editor: Yes! It's quite enchanting. What we have here is an exquisite finger bowl, crafted around 1929-1930. Though its creator remains anonymous, its timeless elegance certainly speaks volumes. Currently, it resides at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Curator: Anonymous, eh? Well, whoever it was, they certainly knew how to manipulate metal! The texture practically sings—cool and smooth in some spots, yet roughened by intricate floral details elsewhere. The interplay of light… dreamy! Editor: Precisely! Let's delve deeper into those floral motifs. The artist masterfully utilized repetitive patterns in bas-relief to animate each piece. Note how the symmetry underscores the object's formal elegance while subtly echoing botanical forms. The structure itself calls to mind blossoming flowers. Curator: Flowers… I love that reading. Makes me think about the hands that would've dipped into them, all perfumed and manicured, between courses at some swanky dinner. There's such intimacy implied by the everyday use of a finger bowl, isn't there? Editor: Absolutely! But from a purely formal perspective, consider the relationships created among the bowls—the primary bowl functions as both a grounding element and visual anchor to the triad of satellite bowls that radiate around it. Curator: It’s a lovely way to think about the piece; though for me the light feels like an ethereal cloak. Editor: Well, considering how deftly the artist handled this striking sculptural tableau, its enduring allure is really beyond any singular point. Curator: I agree! It will surely captivate anyone who has the pleasure of seeing it.