Sugar bowl from a tea service c. 1930

This sugar bowl, part of a tea service by Theodore Hooft, sits here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, all sleek lines and cool metal. I can almost feel Hooft's hands shaping the metal, pushing and pulling, trying to find that perfect balance between form and function. What was he thinking as he crafted this piece? Was he imagining the clinking of spoons, the warmth of tea, the chatter of friends gathered around a table? I think he may have been. The smooth surface of the bowl reflects light in a way that’s almost painterly, catching glimpses of the surrounding space and turning the object into a mirror of sorts. It’s as if the object is trying to communicate with us, inviting us to pause and consider the simple elegance of everyday life. It reminds me of some of the Bauhaus artists, like Marianne Brandt, who were also exploring the intersection of art, design, and industry, and who were inspiring each other’s work.