Foot Warmer 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have Lawrence Phillips' "Foot Warmer," a drawing made between 1935 and 1942 using colored pencil and watercolor. There’s a quiet stillness to it. What draws your attention in this work? Curator: The object itself is quite fascinating. A foot warmer speaks to a particular social and economic class, one with the leisure and resources to warrant such an object. It highlights labor in its making, but also its implicit function: to provide comfort and warmth, which themselves are tied to class and access. Notice the material itself–seemingly handcrafted. I wonder who made this object, and under what conditions. Editor: That’s a good point. I hadn’t considered the labor aspect so directly. The holes seem important somehow... Curator: Exactly. The perforations weren’t just decorative but were vital for heat regulation and safety, impacting the object's usability. What fuel would this object have required? Is the design efficient, or simply ornamental? By interrogating the materials, form, and social purpose, we reveal a complex interplay between utility, social status, and production processes. Editor: It's interesting how a simple foot warmer can open up so many avenues for exploring material culture and social history. I will look at objects in new ways now, seeing their connection to material production! Curator: Precisely. Now we’re getting somewhere; everything signifies.