Vase 1883 - 1889

Curator: This is a vase created by Chelsea Keramic Art Works, likely between 1883 and 1889. You can find it on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: I'm immediately drawn to the crackled glaze; it looks aged and fragile, despite being stoneware. The deep blue clover design creates such a delicate contrast. Curator: Indeed. Chelsea Keramic was an important force in the American art pottery movement, which sought to elevate ceramics from craft to fine art. Their operations were intrinsically linked to the growing commercialism and rising middle classes during that period. Editor: I find it interesting how they’re adapting older styles in a newer cultural context. Was this produced on a large scale? I wonder about the artisans making these, considering this elevated vision of art-making? Curator: Their wares, while not mass-produced in the way industrial pottery was, aimed for a relatively accessible market, particularly through urban centers and affluent patronage networks. They actively promoted decorative ceramics and also participated in different trade shows and art exhibitions. Editor: Right. Seeing it like this I want to analyze this from its technical and physical point of view, which can sometimes get overlooked. What specific clay or glazes are in use, and how do these impact firing methods? Also how it has influenced its preservation needs. The piece presents a very fascinating case. Curator: Preservation brings us to its significance now, doesn’t it? It exemplifies late 19th-century aspirations in American art, navigating between industrial production, artistic expression, and the cultural consumption patterns of the era. This single vase has held onto decades of social forces and transformations. Editor: Well, this little vase sparks even bigger questions, revealing much more than meets the eye in terms of technique and craftsmanship within evolving socio-economic and cultural contexts. It feels very impactful in that regard. Curator: Yes, it seems small but holds centuries in art and culture. I learned so much myself through that lens, too. Thank you for that approach.