Coffee Pot 1900 - 1901

This silver coffee pot by Charles Robert Ashbee, gleams with subtle yet profound cultural echoes. The hammered surface, reminiscent of medieval metalwork, evokes a sense of craft and tradition, a conscious rejection of industrial uniformity. Note the finial, adorned with a verdant stone. This echoes the ancient use of gemstones, not merely as decoration, but as symbols of power and vitality. Think of the emeralds of ancient Egypt or the jade of the Chinese emperors, each imbued with protective and life-affirming qualities. Here, the green gem perhaps signals a yearning for nature, a 'return to the garden,' amidst the burgeoning urban landscapes of the industrial age. Consider how such motifs persist, transforming across epochs. This coffee pot isn't merely a functional object; it's a vessel brimming with the hopes, fears, and aspirations of a culture grappling with modernity, yearning for a connection to a more grounded past. It's a testament to the enduring power of symbols to resonate across time, stirring our collective memory.