Hexagonal
ca. 1725 - ca. 1749
Medium
turning
Dimensions
6.4; 3.3; 7.7; 7; 5.6; 2; 2.2; 12.2; 8
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
height 8 cm
Art Historical Context
**Hexagonal** is a delicate anonymous artwork from the early to mid-18th centuryca. 1725–1749), standing at a modest height of 8. Crafted through the of *turning*—a skilled process using a lathe to rotate and precisely shape materials like wood or ivory—this piece exemplifies the era's fascination with symmetrical, geometric forms. Its hexagonal title suggests a faceted, six-sided structure, a testament to the turner's mastery in achieving crisp edges on a spinning form, which typically yields smoother, rounded profiles. In the 18th century, turning was a celebrated craft in Europe, particularly in workshops producing decorative objects for the home or collector's cabinet. Such small-scale items bridged fine art and functional design, reflecting Baroque influences with their emphasis on intricacy and harmony. Though anonymous, *Hexagonal* highlights the unsung artisans whose technical prowess contributed to the Rococo's emerging elegance, where everyday materials transformed into objets d'art. This piece invites visitors to appreciate the quiet innovation of craft traditions, reminding us how geometry and patience can yield timeless beauty in miniature.
About the Artist
anonymous
In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...