Flat Iron Holder c. 1939

This "Flat Iron Holder" was made by John Swientochowski; I wonder if it's watercolor and ink? I really appreciate that the artist chose to depict this utilitarian object with such care and attention. The earthy palette gives it a quiet presence, like it's been sitting in someone's attic for decades. You can almost feel the texture of the aged metal, a roughness that contrasts with the soft, delicate washes of the paint. If you zoom in, you can see how the artist let the watercolor pool in certain areas, creating these subtle gradations of light and shadow. And that little loop at the end of the handle? It's like a tiny punctuation mark, adding a touch of whimsy to the whole composition. The piece reminds me a bit of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, just in its humble subject matter and the way it finds beauty in the everyday.