Basin 18th century

This pewter basin was crafted by Stephen Maxwell in the late 18th century. Notice the circular form and the maker's mark at the bottom, enclosed within a square. The circle, throughout history, has served as a potent symbol – consider its representation in mandalas, suggesting wholeness, or its presence in the Ouroboros, the snake consuming its tail, symbolizing eternity. The basin itself is not merely a utilitarian object, but rather a vessel, pregnant with potential. Think of baptismal fonts or ceremonial bowls. The basin invokes a sense of purification and containment, ideas rooted deep within the collective psyche. Even the square framing Maxwell’s mark can be viewed beyond its functional purpose. Its rigid lines speak to structure, control, and the imposition of order on the boundless, much like how we try to contain the chaotic nature of existence. These shapes are more than design; they are echoes of humanity’s ongoing dialogue with meaning. Such symbols resurface, transformed, yet still resonant, across epochs.