Wine pot 1882

This wine pot was made in 1872 by Dominick & Haff and is fashioned from silver. Notice the hammered surface, which gives it a tactile, almost organic quality, softening the inherent preciousness of the metal. This textured effect wasn't achieved by machine, but by countless blows with a specialized hammer. This hand-raising technique would have required highly skilled labor, adding significant value. The floral decoration, too, is not merely applied, but painstakingly chased and repousséd from the reverse, further enhancing the surface. The decision to emphasize handcraft in this way relates to the Arts and Crafts movement, which was a reaction against industrialization. In objects like these, we see the value placed not just on the final form, but on the labor and skill embedded within the making process, challenging the divide between fine art and craft.