Copper Bucket c. 1940

Dana Bartlett made this rendering of a copper bucket, but its date and location are not available. Bartlett was known for his watercolors of decorative objects made during the American Arts and Crafts Movement. At the turn of the twentieth century, this movement championed handmade objects over mass-produced items. There was a nostalgia for pre-industrial methods, and a desire to return to simpler ways of life. Artisans often found inspiration in nature, incorporating organic motifs and natural materials into their designs. While the movement celebrated craftsmanship, its reach was often limited by economic and social factors. Mass production made items more accessible to the working class. The handcrafted nature of Arts and Crafts pieces often meant higher prices, catering to a more privileged demographic. "Copper Bucket" thus brings to mind questions of labor, value, and who gets to decide what is beautiful and useful.