Fire Shovel c. 1941

Eva Perry made this charcoal drawing of a fire shovel. Its simple design belies its function: to manage the flames that both warm and destroy. We see a utilitarian object, yes, but let us dig a little deeper. Consider the twisted handle, almost like a caduceus. The symbol is ancient and has been linked to Hermes, guiding souls, but here, it is a reminder of fire's dual nature. Like the Ouroboros, a serpent eating its own tail, fire both consumes and creates, symbolizing eternal cyclic renewal. I think of the hearth as the heart of the home, fire as the soul, and this tool as the will to control these powerful forces. It reminds me of ancient hearth goddesses, like Vesta, who represent home, family, and state. Such symbols remind us that the management of fire is both a deeply primal act and one that connects us to the dawn of civilization.