Harry Allen Design Shop

Hardware Vessels

These vessels are direct descendants of Harry’s ‘Reality’ work, for which he lifts forms directly from life. In this project, and the related Hardware Mugs, the focus is handles.

20 different pieces of hardware have been collected and cast as part of this project — from Victorian knobs to utilitarian pulls. Some have provenance, like a set from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel (the twisted rope handle above, second from right), others are period pieces or quirky finds. This Hardware project in many ways is an exercise in collecting.

The flat-sided vessel was developed as a vehicle for the handles. Three handles are combined on each vessel to give it a distinct personality.

As of July 2024 there are 5 different Hardware Vessels (only the original 4 shown in this document), each comes in two color ways, and each of these 10 variations will be offered in editions of 10.

Hardware  Vessels were first exhibited in ‘The End: Expanded Field Art,’ a group exhibition at Culture Object, 344 West 38th Street, April 25th -July 15 2024. A review of the exhibition, in The Brooklyn Rail, can be found here.

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