Vase (one of a pair) 1886 - 1905

Editor: This is one of a pair of vases, crafted by Copeland somewhere between 1886 and 1905, made of ceramic and porcelain. The swirling gold pattern and the bright flowers give it an exuberant feel. How would you interpret this piece, its decorations and all? Curator: Exuberant is a fantastic word. It’s bursting with… well, everything. When I look at this vase, I imagine someone utterly delighted by the natural world. Copeland is practically overflowing with joy; that bold red, those almost cartoonish white flowers, the dizzying gold swirls. It’s as if he just grabbed handfuls of beauty and threw it at the porcelain! Does that resonance with your interpretation? Editor: It does, yes, that idea of 'throwing' beauty. Almost a childlike enthusiasm, in a way. It's funny, the longer I look the less it seems purely decorative, there's something…almost primal. Curator: Primal! I love that. The sheer energy certainly speaks to a kind of life force, doesn't it? The swirling patterns could even be seen as a stylized depiction of wind or water, elements crucial to… everything, really. Almost makes me think, is this pure artifice, or a cheeky nod to something far more foundational to life? Editor: I see what you mean. It definitely elevates it beyond just being a pretty object. All the same, do you think the artist specifically intended to convey something, or was it just...letting loose? Curator: Intention is always such a slippery fish. Maybe it was a little of both, you know? Subconscious impulses finding form through skilled hands and boundless creativity. It feels both carefully designed and delightfully impulsive! Editor: It's definitely made me look at decorative art a little differently. More than just decoration; maybe containers of a different sort of…energy. Curator: Exactly. Next time, really *look* at that teapot or those plates. Who knows what secrets they're whispering?