Pewter Box 1935 - 1942

Here is a drawing of a pewter box by Harry Goodman, but when it was made, we don’t know. Goodman carefully rendered its silvery sheen with graphite. Pewter is an alloy, mostly tin with a bit of copper, antimony, or bismuth added for strength. It has been used for centuries to make everything from tableware to decorative objects. The key to understanding this image, is pewter’s place in the division of labor. Pewter objects were initially made by individual craftspeople, who cast, hammered, and polished each piece. But as industrialization took hold, pewter production became more mechanized. The material lends itself well to casting in molds, allowing for mass production of identical items. The drawing captures the simplicity of form that is intrinsic to efficient production. Goodman’s focus on this utilitarian object elevates the everyday, inviting us to consider the beauty and significance found in the objects that surround us. It blurs the boundaries between art, craft, and the industrial processes that shape our material world.