Cup and saucer 1933

Curator: Here we have Frank Graham Holmes' "Cup and Saucer," made in 1933. This ceramic piece is a testament to the decorative arts of its time, and is part of the collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: Immediately, I'm drawn to the simple elegance of the design. The delicate form of the cup and saucer is accentuated by that thin rim—the brown line really makes the whiteness pop. Curator: The scene that's transferred onto the ceramic itself depicts the 'James Westover River' and it immediately made me consider the context in which it was made: A representation of wealth in America following The Great Depression. How the rise of everyday objects and the emergence of design played an important role in defining aspirations. Editor: Yes, the image really invites you to consider these factors. Technically, the transfer is pretty masterful and very appealing—though the brown imagery also carries that slightly antique visual atmosphere which many period ceramics have. I wonder about its tactile qualities? Curator: Ceramics like this were part of the mass production of aesthetically pleasing but functional items during a period when access to beautiful things started democratizing. The scale of the depicted Westover River mansion could subtly promote aspirations of a certain lifestyle. Editor: True, there’s that dichotomy: everyday object carrying images of luxury! But if we strip it down, what else does it propose? A very specific, simplified design. The symmetry is pleasant to the eye; also that the slightly abstracted depiction on a small rounded surface creates a little panoramic feeling. Curator: Beyond aesthetic considerations, the material tells a deeper story: how ceramics facilitated and perpetuated certain values by putting particular imagery directly into people’s homes. How museums enable a continued cultural conversation, providing us spaces for understanding these objects beyond the domestic context. Editor: A very well made object, no doubt, with an elegant but understated quality; that’s my lasting impression of it. Curator: And for me, a window into how even utilitarian objects like a simple cup and saucer served—and still serve—as cultural markers within shifting social landscapes.