Soap Kettle c. 1937

Clyde L. Cheney’s ‘Soap Kettle’ captures a humble object, yet it carries echoes of deeper human concerns. Note the simple kettle, elevated on three legs, a form as old as civilization itself, suggesting domesticity, alchemy, and transformation. But look closer at the handle support, which seems to mirror the ancient Vesica Piscis symbol, formed by the intersection of two circles. This symbol, resonating through centuries, has been interpreted as the vulva, the measure of life, the intersection of two worlds. The Vesica Piscis has appeared in various guises, from religious iconography to mystical emblems. Here, supporting the mundane kettle handle, it suggests a connection between the sacred and the everyday. This infusion of the spiritual within the quotidian speaks to our deep-seated need to imbue daily life with meaning and mystery. It reminds us that even in the simplest forms, echoes of profound ideas persist.