Flat Iron Holder c. 1940

Editor: Here we have Neva Coffey’s "Flat Iron Holder" from around 1940, rendered in pencil on paper. It's so simple, yet incredibly detailed. I'm struck by the way she’s elevated a mundane object through close observation. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a direct link to the labor and materials involved in everyday life, specifically, the process of domestic work. The flat iron, usually heated by a stove, demanded a specific tool for safe handling. Coffey’s rendering meticulously documents this relationship. Note the emphasis on the metal itself. How would you compare the two sketches? Editor: The bottom one feels more complete and realistic, while the top one is lighter, more like a preliminary sketch with measurements, perhaps. Curator: Exactly. Coffey is presenting us not only with the object, but with the process of its conception and design. This elevates a simple utilitarian object to the level of careful consideration, mirroring the labor that went into both the making of the tool and its daily use. Think about the social context. What does this say about gender roles and the work of women in that period? Editor: It emphasizes the labor often unseen and unappreciated. It almost makes a statement simply by drawing attention to something so ordinary. Curator: Precisely! And by carefully depicting the tool’s form and function, she validates its importance within the domestic sphere and critiques the system that confines labor. This connects "high" art with craft, disrupting those established hierarchies. I find myself thinking about the hidden artistry and engineering embedded in ordinary objects and ordinary lives. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way, but it really highlights how art can be found even in the simplest, most functional objects around us. I now see the work and intention behind every sketch and metal bend.