Ethiopië-kruik c. 1935 - 1936

Editor: So, here we have the "Ethiopië-kruik," an earthenware jug by Chris Lanooy, created around 1935 or 1936. It's got this wonderful, earthy feel. The dark glaze and the raised medallions give it a weighty, almost medieval presence. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Weighty indeed! It feels like holding history, doesn't it? For me, it’s the dance between functionality and symbolism. The jug, a humble object, elevated with these proud, almost boastful medallions and that strong heraldic shield. I wonder, does that boldness come from a confidence, or a subtle unease during those pre-war years? What kind of stories do you think these images try to capture? Editor: I see what you mean. Perhaps a need to claim history. Many of those medallions seem to show ships…almost like little colonial stamps. It does seem like more than just decoration. Curator: Precisely! And Lanooy was known for his unique glazes and how they interact with the light. Notice how the darker areas recede, giving depth to the raised elements, and highlighting that almost golden sheen where the light touches. How do you think the glaze informs your experience of the artwork as a whole? Does it bring it forward? Send it backwards? Editor: I see. The glaze makes the details pop without overwhelming the vessel's form. You can see it up close but at a distance the details converge with the base color. This artwork is saying much more than it immediately suggests. Curator: Absolutely. Objects can be deceptive storytellers. What starts as a simple form holds all these silent conversations and connections. Editor: Thanks! It’s interesting to think about what an object like this can hold in terms of social narratives! I see the depth now that I may have initially glanced over.