Celery vase 1849 - 1858

This celery vase was made by the United States Pottery Company, founded in 1852, likely around the mid-19th century. This piece reflects the era's fascination with nature and the burgeoning American ceramics industry. The vase’s swirling patterns mimic marble or wood grain, achieved through a technique called “agateware.” This speaks to the 19th-century desire to emulate luxury materials in more affordable ways. The choice of celery, then a fashionable and expensive vegetable, highlights the growing middle class's aspirations and the expanding agricultural market. The United States Pottery Company, like many similar enterprises, sought to establish a distinctly American artistic identity, often drawing inspiration from European techniques while catering to local tastes. To fully understand the vase, further research into the company’s history, period ceramics catalogs, and social histories of American dining customs would be invaluable. The meaning of such an artwork is always contingent on its social and institutional context.