[Picher] Fred Miller forged this pitcher by hand from a six-inch silver disk. The pitcher reveals his love of smooth, flowing surfaces and simple, curving shapes. Modern Scandinavian design strongly influenced Miller.

But he pushed beyond the Scandinavian emphasis on pure symmetry to create bowls and pitchers with slightly irregular shapes inspired by nature. The handle's off-centered design adds a dynamic quality to this piece, suggesting a hand's movement.

Courtesy of the Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, Museum purchase made possible by the James Renwick Alliance and the Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program.

Beverage Pitcher, 1961, by Frederick A. Miller (b.1913), United States, sterling silver with ebony handle


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