Silver Beaker 1935 - 1942

Alfred Nason rendered this silver beaker with graphite and watercolor. Note the etched floral motifs, emblems of growth and renewal, adorning its surface. The beaker, in its essence, is more than a mere vessel; it is a symbol of containment and offering. Consider the ancient Greek kylix, a drinking cup often decorated with scenes of revelry and divine communion, or the medieval chalice, a sacred vessel central to Christian rituals. Both echo the beaker's function, yet their ornamentation reflects differing cultural values. These motifs, like cultural tendrils, find their way into Nason’s work, intertwining past and present. The beaker form itself stirs deep-seated memories. The simple act of holding and drinking from such a vessel is laden with layers of personal and collective experience. One can't help but feel an emotional tug, a subtle reminder of shared human rituals, passed down through generations, which shape our subconscious understanding of the world.