Moon flask 1870 - 1880

Curator: Ah, isn’t it exquisite? Here we have a moon flask crafted by Minton’s, dating back to around 1870 to 1880. You can find it displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: It does have a lovely calmness to it, like a peaceful garden caught in twilight. I’m immediately drawn to the coolness of the blue. Curator: Exactly. This porcelain piece, which can also be categorized as a sculpture, is remarkable in how it intersects the aesthetics of both decorative art and Asian art influences. We see Minton responding to the popular style of Orientalism. Editor: The way the floral and avian patterns seem to climb organically… It's as though the object breathes. And I love that touch of gilt, like sun filtering through the foliage. Does the choice of the flask form suggest a certain function, a containment? Curator: Indeed. The moon flask form itself carries a rich history, especially in Asian ceramics, symbolizing prosperity and harmony. Now, the Minton factory adapted that and married that with Western tastes, especially with this blue-and-white color scheme which alludes to the popular styles from the Ming Dynasty. We could definitely explore how the means of production in Minton's factory democratized fine art production. Editor: Democratization through porcelain…there's a quirky thought. It does suggest a shift in accessibility. One can almost picture a middle-class Victorian family treasuring this piece, fantasizing about faraway lands while tending their own meticulously planned gardens. Curator: Precisely, reflecting Romantic ideals and the popular craze for collecting exotic artefacts during the era. Editor: It’s beautiful to think about an object holding within it both artistry and social significance; A container not just for water but ideas. I find that profoundly beautiful. Curator: Agreed. This single artifact represents many points of contact: industry and imagination; East and West.