Miniature child's mug 1680

This miniature child's mug was crafted in the 18th century by Simon Mackenzie and fashioned from silver. Notice the series of repetitive, vertical indentations around the base. These motifs are an echo of much earlier architectural forms – fluted columns of classical temples. Replicated on a smaller scale, on a domestic object, this same motif invokes notions of stability, order, and the weight of tradition. It also subtly elevates the status of the object, as it is associated with the aesthetic values of the elite. Think of the columns in ancient Greek temples, echoed through Renaissance architecture, and now re-imagined on a child's drinking vessel. The image of the column carries a cultural memory of power and permanence. It reveals how forms persist through time, imbued with new layers of significance.