Wall Cistern with Spigot c. 1790

This Wall Cistern with Spigot was made by Heinrich Hiller II, in Augsburg, Germany, probably in the late 18th century, using hammered pewter and cast brass. Notice the way the relatively soft pewter has been worked. The angles are crisp, yet the surface retains a gentle, almost fabric-like quality. It's clear that Hiller was intimately familiar with the material, coaxing it into form. The spigot is much more assertive. The bright brass suggests the efficiency of industrial production. The piece speaks to the era's aspirations to civility and luxury, as well as to the labor required to produce even seemingly simple household objects. The making process reflects the era's social stratification and evolving relationship to material culture. By considering how this cistern was crafted, and the cultural context in which it was used, we gain a deeper understanding of its significance, and the complex interplay between art, craft, and everyday life.