Silver Communion Beaker c. 1938

Here we see Hester Duany’s rendering of a silver communion beaker, made with graphite and colored pencil. Duany, who lived from 1891 to 1964, made this drawing as part of the Index of American Design, a collection of folk and decorative art objects made by American craftspeople. The communion beaker, as an object, sits at the intersection of the spiritual and the practical, mediating the sacred act of communion. By rendering it in graphite and colored pencil, Duany highlights its aesthetic qualities and elevates its status from utilitarian object to art form. Duany’s work in the Index speaks to the role of women artists in documenting and preserving American cultural heritage. Her quiet, detailed drawing invites us to consider the labor and skill involved in creating both the original silver beaker and its representation on paper, and the diverse identities of those who participated in the creation and use.