Fire Tongs and Shovel 1935 - 1942

This image shows fire tongs and a shovel, rendered with simple, practical elegance. The tools are not merely functional objects, but rather stand as symbols of domesticity and the controlled use of fire. Consider the tongs: their form is a direct descendant of instruments used since antiquity. The double-pronged or scissor-like design has roots in the tools used by blacksmiths in ancient Greece, who tamed fire to shape metal. The shovel, too, is an ancient tool that speaks to our management of resources. These instruments, which were once associated with a communal hearth, evolved with society, moving from a public to a private context. It is a symbol of control over the basic necessities of life. As we observe these images, we are reminded that such motifs are never static. They undergo a constant process of cultural adaptation, reflecting society's evolving relationship with the elemental forces they harness.