Erik Magnussen, designer

Recently rediscovered, this polychrome drawing provided a vivid preview of what would become one of the 20th century’s most iconic works in metal. Its designer, Erik Magnussen, was hired by Gorham to inject a fresh, modern aesthetic into the company’s silver wares. He responded with this dynamic contrast of black, silver, and gold that resonates as strongly in ink and gouache on paper as it does on the service’s boldly patinated, gilded, and polished silver surfaces. Over time, the service’s dark patinated-silver facets had faded considerably. This design drawing provided incontestable evidence of Magnussen’s original intent, guiding the conservation treatment of the Cubic service conducted by the RISD Museum for this exhibition.