Vase c. 1890

This vase was crafted by Crown Derby, an establishment active since 1750. Its form, a gentle, curvilinear silhouette in porcelain, immediately draws the eye. A soft yellow glaze blankets the vase, creating a smooth, reflective surface. Delicate botanical motifs rendered in a subtle palette of browns and golds climb the vase's sides, contrasting with the luminous yellow ground. The flowers and branches, abstracted yet still recognizable, evoke a sense of growth and natural vitality. The vase's shape, with its bulbous base and slender neck, creates a tension between volume and restraint. The arrangement of the painted details further accentuates this structure, drawing attention to the interplay of form and decoration. Consider how this vase uses the natural world to destabilize established meanings and play with perception. Note how the formal qualities of the vase—its shape, color, and decoration—function not just aesthetically but also as part of a larger cultural discourse.