Pewter Basin 1935 - 1942

This pewter basin was made by Harry Goodman sometime before his death in 1995. The basin, a common object, is a vessel, a container. Since antiquity, the bowl has been a deeply symbolic object, representing nourishment and communal gathering. Think of the Holy Grail, the vessel of Christ’s blood, or the bowls used in ancient rituals for offerings. The shape itself, circular and encompassing, evokes a sense of wholeness, a microcosm of the universe. Consider how a similar vessel appears in Jan van Eyck’s Ghent Altarpiece, where the Lamb of God stands before a chalice. In both, the vessel becomes a potent symbol, one of spiritual and earthly sustenance. The basin is a blank slate, an empty receptacle to be filled, both a practical tool and a profound symbol of potential. It reminds us that even the most mundane objects can carry layers of meaning.