Tankard 1900 - 1915

This tankard was crafted by Thomas G. Brown and Sons. Just look at that surface! I imagine the act of hammering out the copper, the patient work of shaping and refining the metal. What did it feel like to hold these materials, to coax them into such elegant forms? The addition of silver feels so good - such a luxurious contrast between those materials. The elegant silver tendrils crawl over the copper, creating these flowing, curvilinear shapes that are kind of Art Nouveau. It makes me think about how so many different materials and techniques go into making one object. I think these tankards are just so cool, they are like the material version of a painting. Artists are always in conversation, borrowing and riffing off one another’s ideas across time. We see how gestures and forms repeat and morph. It reminds me that art isn't about fixed meanings, but about an ongoing dance of expression and interpretation.