Lazy Susan c. 1940

This is Harry Mann Waddell's "Lazy Susan," made with what looks like watercolor on paper, although I don’t have any details on when it was made. I love how Waddell embraces the potential of the medium to create a feeling of luminosity. The white sections of the china aren’t painted white, exactly, but are evoked through very thin washes, with just a touch of darker shading to imply the form. The gold lines shimmer on the edges, like real gold leaf, but in fact, it’s just very cleverly done with a brush! If you look closely at the rims of the different pots and plates, you can see how each line is unique – there’s a slight wobble, a little thicker here, a little thinner there, that gives the whole image a handmade, intimate feel. It reminds me of Wayne Thiebaud, with his focus on everyday objects, but here there's less color and more attention to line. It’s a really beautiful, subtle piece.