Pewter Mug c. 1936

This Pewter Mug was drawn by Charles Cullen, who lived from 1855 to 1995. Pewter itself is an alloy, mostly tin, and in this case, it is rendered with graphite on paper. Cullen has sensitively captured the metal's cool, grey tonality. Mugs like this one were historically made by pewterers, skilled artisans who cast the molten metal into shape, or else hammered it over a mandrel. The three bands at the base of the mug are sharply defined, while the body is gently curved, and reflects light. The handle has a satisfying scroll at the base. Pewter mugs like these were common objects, found in taverns and homes across Europe and America. Their production depended on mining, smelting, and a division of labor. Although this drawing isn't made of pewter, Cullen's close attention to its materiality is evident. The drawing prompts us to consider pewter not just as a substance, but as a result of human ingenuity and collective effort.