Ciborie 1912 - 1916

This is a Ciborie, by Mathieu Lauweriks. It's made of silver and blue stones. It looks like something from outer space, something futuristic and ancient all at once. The hammered texture all over its surface is just so great. Each little dent and dimple catches the light, making the whole thing shimmer. You can almost feel the artist’s hand, the marks of the hammer, making it an almost sculptural painting, or a picture you can hold. I’m really drawn to the way the blue stones are arranged. They remind me of eyes, like the object is watching us, adding a touch of mystique to the overall design. Lauweriks was part of a larger movement exploring geometry and symbolism, a bit like Mondrian and the De Stijl group. But, like any good artist, he takes those ideas and turns them into something totally unique. What I love about this piece is how it embraces ambiguity, leaving space for our imaginations to wander.