Covered vase c. 1710

Here are three covered vases and two vases made by an anonymous artist. Their creation speaks to the complex dance of cultural exchange. The designs, while made by an unknown hand, are clearly influenced by both European and Asian aesthetics. The vase's shape is reminiscent of European forms, yet the floral patterns and color palettes evoke the artistic traditions of the East. These objects raise interesting questions about identity and cultural appropriation. Who made these, and what was their relationship to the designs they were recreating? Do these vases represent a respectful homage, or an unacknowledged appropriation of cultural motifs? These covered vases invite us to reflect on how objects can embody both connection and disconnection, appreciation and exploitation. The beauty of the vases pulls at something primal, while their existence as appropriations pulls at the more complicated and painful themes.