Jardinière 1885 - 1895

This glazed stoneware Jardinière was crafted by Ernest Chaplet. The vessel's profound, dark glaze carries us back to ancient artistic traditions. Consider the simple, rounded form, a shape echoing vessels from antiquity. It's a form that transcends mere utility; it's a carrier of cultural memory. From the amphorae of ancient Greece to the ceremonial urns of dynastic China, rounded vessels have, for millennia, been imbued with symbolic significance, often associated with sustenance, ritual, and the cyclical nature of life. The dark glaze itself—almost funereal in its depth—evokes a sense of mystery. Think of the black-figure pottery of ancient Greece, where silhouettes emerged from darkness to tell epic tales. Or consider the Japanese tea ceremony, where the dark, imperfect surface of a tea bowl invites contemplation. The psychological impact of this glaze is undeniable, drawing viewers into a deep, reflective state. Thus, the Jardinière is a testament to how artistic motifs resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings across time.