Flower Pot 1882 - 1908

Curator: The work before us, simply titled "Flower Pot," was created sometime between 1882 and 1908. It resides here at The Art Institute of Chicago and is an example of decorative ceramic work. Editor: My first impression is how wonderfully earthy it feels. The glazed colors, that mottled brown and green, evoke the textures of soil and foliage, though it looks more haphazard than intentional. Curator: Exactly. I think this "haphazardness," as you put it, belies the means of its creation and perhaps a larger commentary. Note the makers mark “S. Bell & Son” stamped onto the piece. Editor: That’s interesting. How does this stamped insignia alter our perception? Does knowing who made it give context for how these materials or process were perceived during this time? Curator: Absolutely. During the late 19th century, factory produced wares increasingly flooded the marketplace. Bell & Son represents a complex intersection of craft production grappling with industrial methods and shifting social value of handmade goods. The raw materials of the earth are brought to an intentional process – shaped and stamped - for use as a basic commodity. Editor: The labor question becomes critical. Who was actually making these pots, under what conditions, and how were they compensated? How does an object like this challenge notions of “high art” versus mass produced craft, especially in its claim as both decorative and practical. Curator: Precisely. It requires us to reconsider rigid categories. It makes me question to whom it was made for – would they have purchased this due to ease of acquisition versus something handmade with particular intention of care or unique materials. Editor: This piece encourages me to rethink assumed distinctions, while opening dialogue about commodification, value, and the lives involved in its creation. Curator: Yes, it bridges utilitarian object and complex social history through its production methods. Editor: I agree. It certainly goes deeper than just the surface.