Vaas, bolvormig, met hals in de vorm van een bijenkorf met tien bijen 1903

This bulbous vase with its beehive neck, made by Ernest Bussière, feels like it was grown rather than made. The form is so organic, and those ten little bees are so busy. You can tell that it was built up gradually, layer by layer. The material has a kind of cool, misty surface, a strange combination of rough and smooth that reminds me of the way things look after a heavy fog. I find my eye lingering on the handles, with the draped leaves. It’s easy to imagine the way that Bussière formed the clay around his fingers. This artist really understands process – he wasn’t afraid to leave traces of his hand, so we see the material quality of the clay. It’s interesting that in a way, this vase is like an inside-out version of some of the work of Antoni Gaudí, who was also obsessed with natural form. But here, the colors are very muted. It's almost like the vase is trying to blend in with its surroundings. It's quiet, but busy at the same time, if that makes sense.