Trivet c. 1937

Editor: This is Filippo Porreca's drawing, simply titled "Trivet," dating back to around 1937. It seems to be a technical drawing. It's fascinating to see something so utilitarian rendered so beautifully. How do you interpret the cultural significance of this depiction? Curator: Well, let's consider the context. It was created in 1937. We need to think about design movements of the period: Art Deco's stylized forms or the burgeoning embrace of industrial design. Does this trivet design fit neatly into those movements? Editor: I don't think so, I believe it may have been made to propose an addition to a collection. The drawing doesn’t convey mass production; it feels unique. Curator: Exactly. Then, we might ask ourselves what such drawings reveal about the value placed on everyday objects, in this time, or how craftspeople sought to elevate functional items into art. Was Porreca advocating for the preservation of older forms, resisting industrial standardization perhaps? Editor: Interesting! I didn’t consider it as a potential design proposal or as a means of resistance. Do you think museums and institutions at the time would be interested in artifacts and promoting arts like that one? Curator: Yes, absolutely! In the midst of economic upheaval and social change, representing items like this helped to reconnect with heritage, as a means to promote national identity. Editor: So by carefully rendering this functional object, Porreca maybe wasn’t just documenting, but actually participating in a larger cultural conversation around value and identity. Curator: Precisely. And this prompts us to investigate who Porreca was, and what influences shaped his vision of art’s public role. Thank you! Editor: It definitely gave me a new appreciation for this trivet. Thanks!