Plate c. 1951

James Prestini crafted this plate from wood, sometime during his lifetime (1908-1993). Prestini was not only an artist but also an engineer and a mathematician, merging disciplines in his approach to art. Prestini's works often highlight the inherent beauty and structural possibilities of wood. This plate, with its minimalist form and meticulous finish, invites us to reconsider the intersection of art and craft. It’s about how we assign value and meaning to objects in a society that often separates the intellectual from the manual. Prestini challenged these distinctions, elevating utilitarian objects to the realm of fine art. While seemingly simple, Prestini’s plate reflects a deep engagement with material, form, and process, inviting a quiet contemplation on the nature of beauty and the labor involved in creation.