'Cubistic claptrap'? Erik Magnussen's The Lights and Shadows of Manhattan of 1927

A study of Erik Magnussen's iconic silver tea and coffee set of 1927. Often discussed as a major example of art deco silver, this study seeks to understand Magnussen's work in the context of modernist design and aesthetics, concluding that his pieces demonstrate an advanced understanding of the visual cultures of the avant garde of the early twentieth century.