Cycladic Figure with His Hair in a Roller

The hollowware of silversmith Thomas Muir often combines anthropomorphic or natural forms with machinelike elements to surreal effect. His “Cycladic Figure” decanter takes inspiration from stylized female statuettes found in ancient Aegean art, but the playful title reveals that Muir has transformed the feminine idol into a man in an unlikely pose. Moreover, the streamlined shape and dual projecting elements below the handle recall the futuristic style of kitchen appliances from Muir’s childhood. In this way, the decanter probes the relationships between body and machine, masculine and feminine, ancient and modern, and sculpture and household object.