Distilling Apparatus 1866 - 1870

This Distilling Apparatus, made by an anonymous artist, is primarily constructed from copper. Copper is a great material for conducting heat, but it also has an aesthetic quality all its own. It's one of the few metals with a distinctive colour, and it's also highly malleable, meaning it can be easily formed and shaped. Look closely and you'll notice the different processes that have brought this object into being. Hammering and soldering would have been necessary to create the cylindrical body and attach the various fittings. The copper surfaces have a warm, inviting tone. The marks and variations tell a story of use, of heat applied and solutions transformed. Consider too that its creation would require metalworking skills, a knowledge of engineering, and a mastery of heat and chemical processes. It challenges the traditional hierarchies between art and craft, between fine art and utilitarian design, and reminds us of the skill and ingenuity involved in everyday objects.