Miniature kettle with stand and brazier 1703 - 1704

This miniature kettle with a stand and brazier was crafted by George Manjoy around the late 17th or early 18th century. Consider the vessel itself, the way the artisans of ancient Greece shaped amphorae, or how the medieval alchemists sought to transmute base metals in their crucibles. Here, Manjoy presents us with a humble kettle elevated to an object of artistic contemplation. Notice the subtle curves of the kettle’s body and the delicate brazier beneath. One can’t help but recall the symbolism of fire and water. Throughout history, fire is associated with transformation, energy, and purification, while water is linked to fluidity, reflection, and the subconscious. The presence of this diminutive kettle speaks to our collective fascination with transformation, and our never-ending quest to comprehend and control the fundamental forces of nature. It's a silent, yet potent reminder of the alchemical dance between the tangible and the intangible.