Covered Casserole c. 1935 - 1940

The Crownford Potteries crafted this covered casserole, its exact date unknown, from glazed ceramic. Immediately, one notices the interplay between form and function, where utility is elevated through design. The casserole's circular motif, reinforced by concentric bands of pale green and delicate silver trim, creates a sense of harmony and balance. This structure resonates with ideas of wholeness and containment. The eye is drawn across the smooth, reflective surfaces. It moves from the central knob to the curving handles, each element carefully considered in relation to the whole. The bands of color and the precisely rendered lines suggest a semiotic system. It represents a cultural code of domesticity and refinement. The choice of materials and the controlled, almost mathematical, arrangement of forms challenge the traditional boundaries between art and craft. The casserole’s aesthetic lies not just in its appearance but in its conceptual framework. It invites us to reconsider the values we assign to everyday objects.