Saucer c. 1933

Editor: Here we have a stoneware saucer by Tallmayer, its date is unknown. It's small, only 8.5 cm in diameter, and its surface is a patchwork of grey and brown. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: It’s fascinating to consider how this object transcends its utility. What production methods elevate this simple saucer beyond mere functionality? Are we meant to admire the potter's hand, the glaze's alchemic transformations, or perhaps the social rituals surrounding its use? Editor: So, you're suggesting its value lies not just in its form, but in the labor and intention behind it? Curator: Precisely! The inherent tension between its humble function and our impulse to display it signifies the complex relationship between labor, materiality, and artistic value. Editor: That really changes how I see it. It’s not just a saucer, but a statement on value itself. Curator: Exactly. Thinking about the historical context of its creation could also reveal a great deal about artistic intention.