Vase with cover 1769 - 1780

Editor: Standing before us is "Vase with cover," a ceramic sculpture created between 1769 and 1780 by Wedgwood and Bentley. It just feels… weighty, important. All that speckled glaze and gold leaf. What catches your eye when you look at it? Curator: Well, beyond its sheer ornamental power—think mantelpiece bling dialed up to eleven!—I’m captivated by that faux marble finish. Don’t you find it deliciously deceptive? It's like a costume party for ceramics, where earthenware masquerades as a far grander material. There is such an attempt to achieve status. Editor: Absolutely! It’s trying so hard to be fancy! All that Rococo flair. Curator: Precisely. And you know, in that era, mimicking luxury materials wasn't just about showing off. It was about making refinement accessible. A middle-class homeowner might not be able to afford genuine marble, but they could certainly acquire a convincing facsimile, bringing a touch of aristocratic elegance into their parlor. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it, about our own contemporary cravings for luxury, and the ways we curate our public selves. Editor: It really does. I had never considered the social commentary behind the ceramic work and only the decoration! It really challenges me to think more critically about historical periods and art! Curator: That’s it. Art’s a two way mirror. We stare at it, but it also stares back at us, demanding we question the "why" as much as the "what." Now, tell me what you’re going to see next in this exhibit. Editor: That is a fantastic point; I feel empowered with questions. Let's investigate this room about still life next, please!