Mug 1810 - 1850

Editor: Here we have a "Mug" by Thomas Danforth Boardman, dating from around 1810 to 1850. It’s currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Looking at its form and considering it’s crafted from metal, makes you wonder about its function and cultural value... What can you tell us about this piece? Curator: Considering it as a material object redirects our focus. Think of the workshops, the labor of shaping this metal—probably pewter—into a common vessel. This mug is a product of its time. The relative ease of producing multiples via casting meant these became more common, and speak to evolving social practices around consumption and leisure. Editor: So, its value isn’t so much about artistic expression, but more about what its production and usage tells us about society? Curator: Exactly! This mug democratizes access to crafted goods. Before mass production, specialized goods were precious and exclusive, but this piece tells a new story: access for all. What do you notice about its design, considering it in these terms? Editor: I see. The simple design and sturdy material imply mass appeal and constant use, highlighting practicality over refined aesthetics. It challenges this art versus craft distinction. Curator: Precisely. The piece is more about everyday living, isn't it? It invites us to think about function and access. Its value is rooted in its accessibility and in labor and usage in everyday life. Editor: I hadn't considered how much could be revealed by examining the mundane, the object of everyday. Curator: Material considerations really reshape how we understand art and its connection to cultural shifts, right? Editor: Absolutely, and thinking about labor and materiality gives you so much perspective.