Portable Crock Filter c. 1938

This is Eugene Bartz’s ‘Portable Crock Filter’, an undated work on paper. Immediately, the object's symmetry is striking, a structured hierarchy unfolds, with each level distinctly separated yet harmoniously unified by color and embellishment. The interplay of crimson, gold, and verdant bands against a muted backdrop creates a visual rhythm. The two-tiered cylindrical structure gives way to a network of ornate, gold-toned filigree. Look closely, these patterns surround stylized fauna, which invites a semiotic reading. The regal deer and graceful swan speak to notions of purity, nature, and perhaps even social status. The functional spigot becomes an integrated element, disrupting what would otherwise be pure symmetry. This filter is not just an object of utility but a statement piece. Bartz’s treatment elevates the mundane to the marvelous, and the structure of design reveals how objects mediate our relationship with both function and form. Ultimately, the Crock Filter reflects a desire to combine art and life.