Silver Cup and Saucer c. 1936

Curator: Magnus S. Fossum created this drawing, entitled "Silver Cup and Saucer," around 1936. It's rendered in pencil, displaying various views of the object. Editor: It strikes me as a study, a preparation perhaps. There’s a tenderness to the light pencil work; it's almost a whispered appreciation for these everyday items. Curator: Absolutely, you see the careful consideration of form and material. It's not just about representing a cup and saucer but understanding their making and perhaps hinting at the act of consumption—a small luxury accessible to many. Notice how he's detailed the reflective surface. Editor: The silver radiates, doesn’t it? And I'm drawn to those delicate floral motifs adorning the cup. Flowers as a recurring symbol of domesticity and fleeting beauty. The artist may be referencing familiar traditions. It's not merely decorative but symbolic. Curator: The way the sketch employs tone and aged paper gives it the style of an old engraving; and its schematic views—from above, and in elevation, along with a noted scale—remind one of technical drawing. What do you think that tension achieves? Editor: It reminds me that we view a simple object as part of our routines, almost unconsciously. The artist makes you pause. The care invested by the hand elevates it, creating reverence. It’s the type of item treasured by loved ones. Curator: Considering the socio-economic context of the 1930s, this drawing acquires another layer. Silver objects were still aspirational for many. Perhaps Fossum reflects both aspiration and accessibility. Editor: The object takes on the power of memory through form. Its sketched rendering encourages us to contemplate meaning that everyday objects acquire in our lives and throughout culture. I'm also interested to understand which silversmith inspired this item. Curator: It brings out such rich lines of thought, doesn't it? It reminds us to contemplate what such a carefully drawn drawing suggests about work. Editor: Definitely a piece to return to and each time, a different layer may present itself.