Clasp 1736 - 1744

Randall Yetton crafted this clasp from silver and coral, now held at the Art Institute of Chicago. At its core, coral, an emblem of vitality, has threaded itself through our collective consciousness for millennia. Consider the Dionysian thyrsus, a symbol of fertility, which, like coral, bursts with life. The image of the clasp itself, a silver disc portraying flora and fauna, captures a delicate dance between nature and symbolism. The clasp, a fulcrum joining disparate strands, mirrors our own need to connect—to thread memories, experiences, and expectations into a cohesive narrative. This pursuit of cohesion, a 'Denkraum' in action, echoes throughout history, evolving and adapting but never truly disappearing. Much like the serpent Ouroboros, it resurfaces, shedding old skins to reveal new meanings, forever imprinted upon our shared consciousness.