Cuff Buttons c. 1936

Curator: John H. Tercuzzi’s drawing, “Cuff Buttons,” circa 1936. A beautiful watercolor and ink on paper. Editor: The miniature cyclist trapped inside is quite poignant! Almost like a Victorian-era memento mori... with spokes. Curator: Interesting observation. It also evokes the clean lines of the Art Deco period, perhaps hinting at a functional elegance. Think about the time these were made. During the Depression people still longed for a certain refined style even with limitations on budget. Editor: Right, utility is key! I see the metallic detailing which reminds me of production lines and an aesthetic informed by new machines of this period. It looks like these are intended for reproduction at scale? Are there factory marks of any kind on the artwork? Curator: I see what you mean! But these appear to be watercolor renderings; they showcase how to fabricate the components, rather than objects that have been factory-produced, I should note that Tercuzzi spent time teaching decorative design, so this might be something of an imaginative exploration of this role. Editor: Design blueprints… interesting… the medium then becomes the message! We are seeing Tercuzzi’s artistic labour displayed for an unseen commissioner. Do we know where the drawing was likely made or for whom it was commissioned? Curator: Not with any certainty. However, thinking about decorative arts from this time often involves considering their relationship to consumerism and ideas about what constitutes value and who is it made for. There’s definitely room for a richer contextualization around that, perhaps asking people what status a pair of cufflinks represents to them… or a bicycle. Editor: Hmm, well, my interest lies in how designs become real objects, transformed in factories... the potential tensions or synergies in labor practices. It gives these cufflinks… substance, somehow. Curator: And for me, it sparks wonder—almost childlike in its detail and design… So perfect to adorn a suit cuff. I wish these tiny objects could spin out more stories! Editor: From rendering to reality! Or an investigation of material’s potential: now I would love to find where Tercuzzi fits into industrial history!