Vessel 1880 - 1900

This vessel, made by an anonymous artist, likely involved traditional pottery techniques that have been passed down through generations. The form is hand-built from coils of clay, carefully smoothed and shaped. The painted decoration – deer and foliage – is applied using natural pigments. The vessel was then fired, likely in an outdoor kiln. The red-orange around the rim and base are the natural color of the clay, while the animal and plant motifs are painted in black and shades of orange. The beauty of this vessel lies not only in its decoration, but also in its materiality. You can see the hand of the maker in the slightly uneven surface and the subtle variations in the painted lines. These are not the marks of mass production, but the traces of individual skill and creativity. Looking at the amount of work involved in the production process, it suggests that this vessel was not just a utilitarian object but also a valuable cultural artifact. It challenges the traditional distinction between fine art and craft.