Curator

  • Art Institute Chicago
  • Harvard art museum
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A work made of silver.

Pitcher

1947–56

Design attributed to Oscar Riedener (American, born Switzerland, 1910–2000) Tiffany and Company (American, founded 1837) New York

New York City

The unusual, dynamic shape of this pitcher is void of historical references and exemplifies the sleek, unadorned idiom that prevailed in American design after World War II. While the pitcher’s form is thoroughly modern, the traditional material and hammered texture of the body, however, recall the handcrafted aesthetic that characterized American Arts and Crafts metalwork of the early 20th century. Emerging from a bulbous body that tapers at the neck, the arching spout and curving handle suggest a split botanical stalk splaying in two directions.

Silver

Drinking and Dining

Arts of the Americas