Candle Sconce 1935 - 1942

Editor: This is Mildred Ford's "Candle Sconce," a drawing from between 1935 and 1942, rendered in pencil on paper. It feels very technical, almost like an architectural blueprint. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: The drawing offers us a glimpse into the material culture and gendered spaces of its time. The candle sconce itself, a seemingly simple object, embodies both functionality and domesticity, historically associated with women's roles. Do you notice how the precision of the drawing contrasts with the implied warmth and intimacy of candlelight? Editor: Yes, it's a strange mix. The detail feels very deliberate and removed, but the object is meant to create a comforting ambiance. Curator: Exactly. Now, considering the era, during the Great Depression, what do you think this focus on functional, handcrafted items might represent in terms of social values or perhaps even resistance? Editor: Hmm, perhaps it's a commentary on self-reliance and a return to simpler, more sustainable living during economic hardship? Curator: Precisely. It could be read as a subtle critique of mass production and a reclamation of traditional skills, placing value on the handmade, especially within the domestic sphere. Think about how women, often excluded from the formal workforce, maintained and contributed to the household economy. What do you make of that? Editor: I hadn't considered that. It does seem to elevate the everyday object and the labor associated with it. Seeing it through that lens gives me a new appreciation for the drawing itself and what Ford might be trying to say about gender and economics. Curator: And hopefully that opens new avenues to examine design history and the many people whose artistic contributions were long overlooked.