Figural spill vase 1849

This figural spill vase was made by Lyman, Fenton & Co. sometime after 1849. The reclining stag is adorned with a garland and vase opening on its back. During this period, ceramics were being made for a rising middle class. These types of ornamental pieces allowed them to express their sensibilities through decorations in their homes. Think about the Victorian era and its fascination with nature and sentimentality. Spill vases like these were created for holding tapers used for lighting gas lamps and pipes, but it is hard to ignore the use of the deer. For many, the deer carries connotations of vulnerability and gentleness. However, historically it's also been considered a symbol of masculinity and hunting prowess. The emotional ambiguity in the piece is palpable. How does this piece make you feel? This ceramic object isn't simply decorative; it encapsulates the tension between nature and culture, domesticity and wildness, in a rapidly industrializing world.