Silver Bowl c. 1936

This technical drawing shows a silver bowl by Giacinto Capelli. It is a study in process and form, emphasizing the meticulousness required to bring such an object to life. The drawing uses precise lines to convey the bowl's scalloped edge and curvature. Silver, as a material, has always been associated with luxury and status, transforming from raw ore through intensive labor. The bowl, likely intended for domestic use by an affluent family, embodies a culmination of industry, craft, and consumption. Skilled metalworkers would have employed techniques such as hammering, annealing, and polishing to shape the metal, processes honed over generations, and the design suggests both hand-crafting and industrial manufacturing. Considering this bowl, we can appreciate the labor, materials, and social context embedded in even the simplest of functional objects, challenging any divide between art and craft.