Vase 1895 - 1912

This earthy-green vase was made by Grueby Pottery sometime between 1899 and 1916. I can imagine the potter, maybe it was a she, carefully shaping the clay, fingers smoothing and coaxing the form into being. The matte glaze is so seductive, like a soft, mossy surface. It makes me think of nature and landscapes, of quiet contemplation and organic forms. It’s so different from a shiny ceramic and feels like an antidote to the world we live in now, with all our slick screens and glossy surfaces! The figure on the side is interesting, a little awkward, a little strange, but that just makes it all the more appealing. I feel like I'm in dialogue with this potter from over a century ago. I wonder what she was thinking? What was she hoping to communicate? It's such a beautiful example of how artists are always in conversation across time, inspiring and influencing one another's work. It shows how the simplest form can be a carrier of so much emotion, intention, and thought.