Silver Tankard 1935 - 1942

Here's a study of a silver tankard by Joseph Leboit, likely rendered with graphite and watercolor on paper. What’s interesting is the way Leboit has translated the gleaming, reflective quality of metal into these humble materials. You can almost feel the cool weight of the silver, and imagine lifting the hinged lid. Think of the specialized skills needed to raise a tankard like this from a flat sheet, hammering and annealing to coax it into form. But this isn't the tankard itself; it's a drawing. Leboit is thinking through its design, working out the details of its handle and lid. His choice of media – pencil and watercolor – offers a direct, immediate way to explore the object's form and appearance. Perhaps he valued the quickness and accessibility of drawing over the more laborious process of silversmithing when contemplating the design. It reminds us that every object, no matter how seemingly simple, is the result of careful planning, skilled labor, and creative problem-solving.