Salver 1745 - 1746

Editor: Here we have a salver by John Harvey I, a gleaming disc of silver. Its surface is so smooth and reflective, yet the edge is highly decorated. What draws your eye when you look at this? Curator: The interplay between the flat, unadorned central plane and the highly articulated, almost baroque, rim establishes a visual tension. The scalloped edge, punctuated by stylized shell motifs, creates a dynamic rhythm. Editor: So, it's the contrast that gives it interest. I see now how those two elements work together. Curator: Precisely. The central emptiness amplifies the ornate detail, drawing the eye repeatedly between the void and the embellishment. Editor: That's a fresh perspective for me. I'll definitely look at decorative arts differently now! Curator: Indeed, observing the relations of form, of line and volume, is key to understanding the aesthetic properties.