Vase (vase à tête d'éléphant) (one of a pair) 1753 - 1763

This pink-ground porcelain vase with elephant-head handles was created by Jean-Claude Duplessis. The eye is immediately drawn to the vibrant pink hue which dominates the vase's surface. This color serves as a playful yet elegant backdrop for the intricate geometric patterns that encircle the piece. Consider the meticulous detailing of the latticework. Each intersection is adorned with tiny floral arrangements. These delicate embellishments soften the structural rigidity of the geometric design, lending it an organic quality. The elephant heads introduce a surreal element. Their smooth, matte finish contrasts with the gloss of the pink porcelain. Duplessis's vase plays with the tension between the natural and the artificial. The overall design hints at a deeper exploration of materiality and representation, challenging viewers to reconsider established aesthetic boundaries. This vase is not merely a functional object but a complex interplay of form, decoration, and meaning.