Vase 1886 - 1890

This vase was produced by the Faience Manufacturing Company, sometime between 1881 and 1892. The eye is drawn to the ovoid body, decorated with the naturalistic imagery of fowl amongst reeds. The overall structure of the vase reveals a clear tripartite division. The base, the body and the handles frame the neck, each segment defined by distinct ornamentation. Note how the eye is guided upwards from the darker, earth-toned base, through the gilded reeds and birds of the vase’s body. The gilded handles and rims offer a striking contrast against the creamy porcelain, creating a visual tension between opulence and restraint. This interplay suggests a dialogue between the aesthetic values of the time, reflecting both an appreciation for natural forms and the artifice of industrial production. Here, the vase exists as an object of utility and a complex signifier of cultural values.