Figure of a Man c. 14th century

Curator: Here we have "Figure of a Man," housed at the Harvard Art Museums, by an unidentified maker. Editor: It's tiny! And the texture of the material gives it a warm, aged feel. Is it ivory, maybe? The tooling marks also suggest a lot of time and labor. Curator: The figure's anonymity speaks volumes, doesn't it? It prompts us to ask, who was he? What purpose did his image serve within the cultural context in which it was made and used? Editor: Precisely! What was the process? The craftsman shaped something enduring from a basic material, giving form to this figure. I wonder about its place in trade or ritual practice. Curator: The lack of specific details allows viewers from any background or historical era to project their own narratives onto him. Editor: I'm struck by how materials and the hand of the maker can imbue an object with such potential. Curator: Exactly, it's a potent reminder of how artifacts hold untold stories and social forces. Editor: An excellent piece for prompting reflections on craft.