Silver Tankard c. 1936

Editor: Here we have Lawrence Flynn's "Silver Tankard," created around 1936. It's a pencil drawing and has an almost architectural feel, really emphasizing the geometric structure. What do you see in this piece? Curator: For me, it screams "making." Look at the careful pencil work. It isn't just depicting a silver object; it is about the labor involved in design, the rendering process itself, even perhaps hinting at the potential mass production that such a design might lead to. Does the drawing style indicate preparation for fabrication in your view? Editor: Absolutely! It's like a blueprint, each line serving a specific purpose for the craftsman. The silver itself is only potential, the real thing is this design. I also notice a tiny geometric construction in the top and bottom right hand corners. Curator: Yes, exactly! The geometric constructions on the right and details feel so critical. I find myself thinking about the social context, the Art Deco influence in design and even questioning the consumption this drawing anticipates. Are we celebrating craft, or commerce, or both? What details seem the most telling to you about this? Editor: I hadn’t considered it in those terms, but now I’m drawn to the handle's ornamentation, the small heraldic device near where it attaches. That blend of mass-producible form with decorative flourish feels significant, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed. It challenges our notions of “high” art, questioning where function ends and art begins, pointing at material processes as part of the creation of cultural values, blurring the boundaries. Thanks, this makes me look at the work in new light! Editor: Thank you! This definitely shifts my perspective of craft in relation to industrial design.