Sugar Bowl 1933

Frank Graham Holmes made this sugar bowl, it seems, out of porcelain. I'm curious about the process, how he starts with a lump of clay, a very physical thing, and transforms it into something so refined. The sepia design of Independence Hall wraps around the bowl, kind of like a memory fading into the present moment. Holmes uses these very fine lines, almost like he’s sketching with light. Look at the way the image wavers and shifts. It’s like Holmes wasn’t interested in sharp focus. I like that. The handle and the rim are accented with this very precise, careful band of copper luster which adds a touch of formality. The bird on top is adorable, a little gesture, a whimsical moment. It reminds me a little of Eva Zeisel, who also made elegant, slightly playful, homewares. You know, art is this ongoing conversation, everyone riffing off everyone else, across time, across materials.