Liverpool Jug c. 1936

This jug, made by Helmut Hiatt, feels like a snapshot of history—or maybe history as a tall tale. The jug is cream coloured, and is decorated with black engravings. On one side, a figure stands, presumably a war hero with a cannon behind him and sailing ships in the distance, while on another side there is a crest. I imagine Hiatt, a craftsman, carefully planning the placement of each image, turning the jug in his hands, considering how the narratives wrap around the object. There is a kind of intimacy that comes with that level of focus and care, a way of communicating through process. The act of creating such a jug transforms utilitarian ceramics into a piece of art history. It reminds me that art, in all its forms, is about storytelling. Hiatt is in conversation with the past, remixing it to create something new.