Vase by George E. Ohr

Artwork details

Medium
ceramic, earthenware
Dimensions
9 9/16 x 7 in. (24.3 x 17.8 cm)
Location
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Copyright
Public Domain

Tags

#ceramic#earthenware#stoneware#ceramic#abstraction#united-states#decorative-art

About this artwork

This extraordinary vase was crafted by George E. Ohr, an artist active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Ohr, working in a time of rapid industrialization and social change, distinguished himself through his eccentric approach to pottery. Ohr embraced imperfection, manipulating clay into radical, asymmetrical forms that defied conventional aesthetics. Here, the surface undulates with a visceral energy, as the glazes swirl and meld in unpredictable ways, creating a sense of dynamism. Ohr once proclaimed himself the "world's greatest potter," which speaks to a confidence that was at odds with the artistic conventions of his time. He saw his vessels as emotional expressions, each telling its own story through its unique shape and texture. This piece exists as an artifact and a testament to the power of individual expression.

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