Running head: FORMAL ANALYSIS OF EWER Formal Analysis of Ewer Name Professor Course Date 1 FORMAL ANALYSIS OF EWER 2 This silver artifact was created during the eighteenth century by Marc Bazille, who lived around 1706-1777. The ewer is believed to have been created around 1745-1746 and is classified as metalwork-silver. The ascension number of the ewer at the Metropolitan Museum is 58.60.1. The ewer, which was accompanied with a basin, was one of the most important items of washing and grooming. The ewer was created using the ROCOCO style which is a way of decorating using soft colors and elegant curves to bring out different ideas or themes. The ewer has a nice symmetrical shape with a nice silver color. The silver color brings out a simple and cool color that attracts subtlety. The symmetrical shape can be the representation of a person in leadership position should be all-rounded and fair to his subjects. The silver reflective color is a show of the reflective nature of the society such that the society reflects the leadership directly. The nice beautiful curvy structure of the ewer adds to the sophistication of the ewer. It might have been a representation of the sophistication of the modern man at the time of creating the ewer. The decorative and wide sitting base of the ewer gives it a nice stable area to sit on. The base is also circular with several levels of rings that form the base. The bottom ring has a big diameter followed by one with a lesser diameter until the top one with the smallest diameter. These can be viewed as a representation of a characteristic of a leader or a man in a position of influence in the community. The person is expected to be a relatively stable person who can be depended upon by the people to stand in the midst of trials. The trials can be viewed as the weight that is placed on the ewer when it is filled with water. Also, the multiple levels of rings at the bottom can be seen as the hierarchical levels of power or leadership with the bottom being where majority of people are and the top where there are few people. FORMAL ANALYSIS OF EWER 3 The handle has a thin elongated shape that forms a graceful curve with some good line finishing. This is coupled with a finely carved top that has the finishing of an ornamental piece. The neck of the ewer also has the carving of the head of an animal. This is flanked by the carving of a plant or crop. The top can be a representation of the crown of the king that is a symbol of authority. The symbolism of the head of an animal and plant that is carved on the neck can be a representation of the jurisdiction of the king’s power. This can show that it belongs to an area that is known for that specific animal and plant or a period in time where that animal and plant were very common. At the base of the ewer there are decorations of persons that are wearing what seems to be a turban on the head that alternates with a coffin like drawing. This can be a representation of the user of the ewer. It is probably a servant who wears a turban on his head. It can also show that the user is dedicated to the king or kingdom to death through the use of the coffin like drawings. The servant represented in the decorations at the bottom wearing a turban is most probably symbolic of the number of servants. The ewer was used in a royal place. The royal place must have been packed with many servants. The royal place must also have had many visitors and guests. The servants needed to be identified and distinguished from the guests. For this reason, the servants must have been clothed in a uniform. This uniform was most probably included a turban. Moreover, this must have made it easier for the guests to identify their fellow guests and the servants to avoid any confusion and for formal purposes. The sophistication of the ewer is clearly visible and is brought out by the use of the various drawings and carvings on the top and at the base. The viewer is therefore to view the visual intricacies of the ewer and appreciate the ancient beauty of the ewer and the creativity of the creator, Mark Bazille. FORMAL ANALYSIS OF EWER Object: Ewer French, 18th Century, Height: 10 1/4 in. (26 cm). Accession Number: 58.60.1 4