Vase with a Crystalline Glaze c. 1890 - 1893

This is a vase with a crystalline glaze by Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat. Dalpayrat was part of the late 19th-century revival of stoneware ceramics in France, which drew inspiration from Chinese glazes and Japanese forms. During this period in Europe, there was a widespread fascination with Japanese art and design, a movement known as Japonisme. Artists were drawn to the asymmetry, simplicity, and natural motifs found in Japanese art, which offered an alternative to Western academic traditions. Dalpayrat's glaze mimics the effect of naturally occurring crystals. The glaze, with its flowing patterns, suggests a kind of organic growth, or a landscape frozen in time. As you observe this piece, consider how Dalpayrat merges Eastern aesthetics with Western ceramic traditions, reflecting a moment of cultural exchange and artistic reinvention. This object encapsulates the late 19th-century enthusiasm for Japanese art and the search for new modes of artistic expression.