Mug 1708 - 1709

Curator: Here, we have a silver mug crafted by Henry Penstone; it's part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: Oh, it’s gleaming! The way the light bounces off its surface gives it a rather ethereal quality. Curator: Indeed, and it’s not just smooth, there's a whole system of patterned engraving and fluting. See how the spiral pattern curves upward? It creates a dynamic sense of movement. It’s almost like a vortex waiting to pull you in. Editor: And the handle! That leaf-like terminal. It feels like a symbolic nod to nature. It might represent prosperity and growth, connecting the mug to the earth's abundance. What do you make of it? Curator: Perhaps, or maybe it was just something playful and delightful to add in the mug. It surely captures light. Editor: It does make one ponder the stories this mug could tell, what hands it has passed through. Curator: Yes, the hands, and the shared drinks, and the toasts offered. It leaves you considering the mug's journey.