Designs for Two Ewers, a Carafe (two alternate designs), and a Covered Tureen 1845 - 1855

Alfred Henry Forrester rendered these designs for silverware using pen, ink, and watercolor in the 19th century. The techniques used are traditional to the fine arts, but the intended result was designs for mass production. The drawings are highly detailed. They show a range of forms and decorative treatments. Forrester was exploring how his designs might translate into tangible objects through the craftsmanship of silversmiths. The material qualities of silver, its luster, malleability, and capacity to hold intricate details, all come to mind when viewing these drawings. These drawings are more than just preparatory sketches. They represent an intersection of artistic vision and industrial manufacturing. They point to the increasingly blurred line between art and design during the Industrial Revolution, and raise questions about the role of the artist within an expanding capitalist system. They invite us to consider the labour involved in both the design and the potential production of such luxury goods.