Vase 1894 - 1903

This vase, crafted by George E. Ohr, presents a striking image with its twisted form and speckled blue glaze. The twisting evokes the ancient motif of the serpent, a symbol laden with meaning across cultures. The serpent appears in various guises, from the Ouroboros, consuming its tail in an eternal cycle of destruction and rebirth, to the biblical serpent, embodying temptation and forbidden knowledge. Ohr's vase embodies both the allure and unease associated with this primal symbol. Its undulating form and mottled texture create a sense of organic vitality, yet its deliberate distortion introduces an element of disquiet. Consider the psychoanalytic implications; the serpent, often linked to the subconscious, becomes a projection of our deepest fears and desires. Ohr, through his manipulation of clay, taps into this collective memory, creating an object that is both beautiful and unsettling, forever reminding us of the inherent duality within ourselves and the world around us.