Silver Tankard 1935 - 1942

This Silver Tankard was made by Simon Weiss, who lived between 1855 and 1995. I love the way the graphite has been used here. It's so delicate, it almost looks like a photograph. The surface has this pearly, shimmering quality, like the real thing. Look how Weiss captures the metallic sheen of the tankard. You can almost feel the coolness of the metal. I’m drawn to the subtle gradations, the way the light catches on the curved surfaces. See the way he's added the extra details, like the hinged lid and the little heart-shaped detail at the bottom. It's like he's showing us all the different parts that make up the whole. This piece reminds me a little of the work of Giorgio Morandi, with its quiet contemplation of everyday objects. Ultimately, it's about seeing the beauty in the ordinary, and finding new ways to look at the world around us.