Kettle Ring c. 1938

Frank McEntee rendered this kettle ring with watercolor, capturing the essence of hearth and home. The circle, the dominant form, evokes the cyclical nature of life, the changing seasons, and the eternal return. We see it mirrored in wedding rings across cultures, symbolizing unbroken vows and eternal love. But note here: at the top of the ring a heart emerges, linking the image of domesticity with love. This symbol, ubiquitous today, traces back to ancient associations with the soul or seat of emotions, evolving from representations of foliage to the emblem of romantic love. Consider how the heart, once a stylized leaf, now pierces us with its saccharine sweetness, a testament to the enduring power of symbols to adapt and resonate across centuries. The collective memory embedded in these forms engages us, stirring subconscious echoes of warmth and connection. Thus, the ring and the heart, in their perennial dance through history, remind us that the past is never truly gone. It resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, forever shaping our present.