Border 16th-17th century

Editor: So this is a design called "Border," by an anonymous artist, currently housed in the Harvard Art Museums. It's so striking, it’s like a heraldic column filled with mysterious objects. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: It feels like peering into someone's subconscious, doesn't it? All these symbols of power and protection – the helmet, the weapons, even the griffin – are stacked together in a way that's both assertive and vulnerable. I imagine it gracing the edge of a medieval manuscript, a silent guardian. Editor: The idea of a silent guardian is beautiful, like a sentry standing guard over the text. Curator: Exactly! And don't you think there's a dreamlike quality to the way the objects are arranged, as if they're floating in space? Editor: Absolutely, it’s given me a new appreciation for the artistry that can be found in even the smallest, most functional designs.