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English (Lambeth) Barber's Bowl About 1690 Tin-glazed earthenware 3-1/2 inches high, 10-1/4 inches in diameter Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George R. Steiner 96.36.6 |
Look
- What objects do you see on this bowl? Where do you see them? Why would
the artist include these objects as a part of the design of this bowl?
What does it tell you about the function of the bowl? How many living
creatures do you see? What kind are they? Where do you see them?
- What kinds of lines do you see? Use your finger to point out the kinds
of lines that have been used for the branches and flowers on this bowl.
Where do you see lines repeat to make a PATTERN?
- How would this bowl fit a person being shaved? How would the barber
hold this bowl? Do you think this bowl would be heavy or light to hold?
What if your hands were wet and soapy?
- How big do you think this bowl is? Have you ever seen a bowl like
it? This view shows the inside. If you could see the bowl's other side,
what do you think you would find? Why?
- The designs on this bowl are not symmetrical, yet they appear balanced.
How have the shapes and lines been used to make the design appear balanced?
In what ways has the artist made the lines of the decoration correspond
to the shape of the bowl?
- Can you tell what material was used to make this bowl? What do you
think the two small holes at the top are for? Do you think this bowl
was put away when not in use? Why or why not?
Think
- This bowl is called a Barber's bowl. Why do you think it is called
that? What does the name tell you about the function of this bowl? Why
do you think this bowl was useful for barbers? What does a barber do?
Would barbers use a bowl like this today?
- From its appearance, do you think it was made to be used or to be
looked at? Why do you say that? What other objects in this unit are
useful and decorative? How does this bowl differ from the Hopi-Tewa
seed jar? How are they the same? Do you have anything in your home that
is beautifully decorated and also useful? Describe it. What do we use
bowls for today? What are your bowls at home made of?
- If you could design a barber's bowl, what colors would you choose?
How would it differ from this bowl? What shapes would you use? What
kinds of lines? What images would you choose to represent?
- The design of this bowl incorporates MOTIFS
from both European and Asian cultures. Which motifs do you think belong
to which culture? Why? This bowl is tin-glazed earthenware designed
to look like Chinese porcelain. Why would Europeans want to imitate
porcelain? (Porcelain was highly prized in Europe for its amazingly
thin, elegant, and translucent qualities, and the secret of porcelain
production had not yet been discovered in Europe.) What other objects
in this unit were inspired by Asian art? Do you have anything that is
made of one material but designed to look like another? Describe it.
Key ideas.
Where does it come from?
What does it look like?
How was it used?
How was it made?
Discussion questions.
Additional resources.
Select another piece.
