Harriete Estel Berman's Hourglass FIgure: The Scale of Torture made from Post Consumer Recycled TIns

Hourglass Figure, The Scale of Torture is constructed to look like a bathroom scale using tin cans from Slim Fast and various kinds of cookies. The recycled tin cans were cut with pinking shears, folded, and riveted together.

The edges of the tins cans were "pinked" and bent up so that the thought of standing on this scale would be extra painful (as if standing on a scale isn't painful enough already.) The quilt pattern is based on a traditional quilt pattern called hourglass.

Dimensions: 3" H x 12.5" W x 13" D

Through the Plexiglas window, the scale dial slowly rotates for the viewer to read words with double meanings that describe both food and women: SUGAR, TOMATO, PEACHES, CUPCAKE, TOOTSIE, CHEESECAKE, LAMBCHOP, DUMPLING, TART, SWEETIE PIE, PUMPKIN, MORSEL, DISH, COOKIE, HONEYBUN, MUFFIN.

Close Up of Hourglass Figure: The Scale of Torture Harriete Berman

Private Collection

Hourglass Figure the Scale of Torture is in the book Manufractured by Mara Holt Skov and Steven Skov Holt. An entire chapter of the book features my work.

An image and column of descriptive text is also included in Makers: A History of American Studio Craft by Bruce Metcalf and Janet Koplos. This book is the only comprehensive survey of 20th century craft movement in the United States. I am thrilled to say that images of my work are included in this book destined to be the text book for every class about the history of craft. No need to take a class.