-Lion on Tub c. 1920 - 1934

This lion on a tub, by the A.C. Williams Company, is a little sculpture rendered in cast iron. There's something really beautiful in seeing functional materials like this used to create art. I love the look of the bronze finish, it seems to have been spontaneously applied, creating this irregular surface which is really interesting. The texture of the iron gives the lion's mane a life of its own; you can almost feel the weight and roughness of the metal. It's not trying to be sleek or perfect and that’s what I like about it. The way the metal is cast reminds me a little of some of the early twentieth century Dada artists who were playing with ready-made objects, making us think about what art is and what it could be. Ultimately, this piece is an invitation to slow down and really look. Art is never really finished anyway, just constantly reinterpreted.