Pitcher c. 1900

This pitcher was made by Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat, probably in France. Like other ceramics, it began as humble clay, coaxed into shape on the potter's wheel. But the glazes are what really set this piece apart. Look closely, and you'll see a pooling effect, like oil on water. This didn't happen by accident. Dalpayrat was a true glaze chemist, always experimenting. He was particularly known for his 'rouge flammé' glazes, which had a blood-red color. But here, we see that technique pushed in a different direction, with the introduction of green and gold hues. This pitcher is not just a vessel, but an example of studio pottery, when individual artists elevated useful objects into high art through material ingenuity. So next time you pour a glass, remember the amount of work and knowledge in even the simplest of objects.