Tea Pot c. 1914

Grant Wood, better known for his paintings, also made this silver tea set sometime in his career, which now lives at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I wonder if Grant Wood was thinking about the shapes in his paintings when he designed these vessels? Did he approach silversmithing as sculpture, bringing his painterly perspective to the medium? I love how the shiny surface throws back light and reflections. Do you see how the elegant curves of the teapot speak to each other? It's like they are having a tea party of their own. Think of all the conversations and moments of quiet contemplation these objects could have been party to over the years. Just as painters borrow and respond to one another across generations, craft objects like this carry echoes of tradition and innovation. They remind us that creativity flows through many forms and connects us to a longer history of making.