Drawer Pull c. 1936

Philip Johnson’s design for a drawer pull depicts the face of a lion biting an austere ring in an overall scale of 29.4 x 23 cm. I wonder what Johnson was thinking when he chose a lion for his handle. Was he thinking about heraldry, of royal emblems and medieval knights? Or did the lion simply appeal to him as a decorative motif with its glorious mane and fierce expression? Whatever his intentions, the result is striking. The lion's face is surprisingly expressive, conveying a sense of both strength and vulnerability. His brow is furrowed, as if burdened by a weight of responsibility. The metallic rendering gives the whole piece a kind of warmth, as if it were cast out of precious gold. When I look at this drawing, I imagine the workshops and foundries where metal was formed with fire, by hand. This artistic imagining connects across art forms and historical moments. I admire Johnson's inventive spirit and think about how we can be inspired by the past, and how we might bring historical elements to the future.