Toast Rack c. 1936

Mildred Ford made this Toast Rack, which is drawn with graphite and watercolor, like an architect’s elevation. It looks more like a fantasy machine than something for your breakfast table. I am interested in this drawing as an image of industry. Was Mildred Ford hoping to sell this design? Did she want to mass produce it? I am captivated by the idea that Mildred Ford has these ideas for producing lots of these objects. Her plan of the toast rack feels like an exercise or preparation for a larger idea. It shows the skill and craftsmanship involved in bringing a design to life. The image itself has a quiet, tender quality. The washes of light and shade on the handle are really appealing, and feel very delicate. It reminds me that art and design are always in conversation. We, as artists, are always building on ideas from the past. Each mark is an echo and a response, a continuation of a dialogue that spans centuries.