Silver Tankard c. 1936

This is Clayton Braun's "Silver Tankard" drawing, made with graphite on paper, though we don’t have a precise date. The drawing depicts an ornate vessel with a lid, handle, and decorative crest above, typical of traditional metalwork. But consider the social status implied by such craftsmanship. Was this an item produced for wealthy consumers who would have the ability to purchase fine things? We should consider institutions like design schools or guilds that preserved and passed on these skills. Were they open to all, or did they perpetuate existing social hierarchies? Further research into Braun’s personal history, the archives of design institutions, and the economic history of decorative arts in this period might reveal how this image reflects the social structure of its time. Art, even in the form of a drawing, is always entangled in broader historical context.