Potpourri Vase c. 1765

Editor: This gorgeous "Potpourri Vase" was made around 1765 by the Chelsea Factory. It's porcelain with gilding, and the Rococo style is really shining through. I find it opulent, but almost…perfume-y? What do you see in this piece? Curator: It certainly speaks of luxury! Think about what a potpourri vase signified in that era – the attempt to mask the harsh realities of everyday life with carefully cultivated fragrances. These objects were designed not just to please the nose, but also the eye, broadcasting a certain level of social standing. Editor: That makes sense. I noticed that the floral paintings look so deliberate, almost…coded? Curator: Precisely. Flowers are almost never *just* flowers. What kind of feelings do you get from the floral embellishments? Editor: Happiness and elegance? Roses, especially, have associations with love and beauty, I guess. Curator: Yes! Roses are classic symbols of love and Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. But notice the overall form of the vase, the swelling curves…the suggestion of contained secrets? This wasn't just about smelling nice; it was about subtly communicating desires, flirting through objects. The visual and the olfactory senses were working together to craft and enhance a social narrative. Editor: I never considered a vase could have so much to say. The way the scent would drift out... it’s almost a language. I’ll never look at decorative arts the same way! Curator: The power of objects lies in their capacity to evoke memories and stories far beyond their surface appearance. Each curve and flower tells a silent tale, whispering of forgotten eras.