Dimensions: 4 5/8 x 14 1/4 in. (11.75 x 36.2 cm)
Copyright: No Known Copyright
This charger was made at the Rembrandt Pottery Factory in Gouda, sometime between 1925 and 1955. Just picture the maker, poised over this circular form, conjuring swirling scenes of water lilies and irises out of thin air. There’s a real sense of play here, as though the factory painter was experimenting with how to merge different decorative styles, like Japonisme and Art Nouveau. The brushwork is so lively and the colors are so vibrant. The glaze looks like a glassy pond. I love the way the yellows in the border frame the whole composition, like sunshine reflecting off the water. The whole thing fizzes with energy, like the best abstract paintings. It's not just decorative; it’s a whole world in miniature. It makes me think about the way artists inspire one another across different eras, like Van Gogh finding inspiration in Japanese prints. This piece feels part of that ongoing conversation.
Comments
Though it’s called a charger, this piece is more like a bowl or a deep dish. Yet it is still meant to be viewed as a two-dimensional artwork, such as a painting, and was probably hung on the wall, as it is here. Like a painting, the charger has a “frame,” in this case made with a geometric border. Inside the frame, swirling flowers (perhaps poppies) envelop the viewer, forming a second framing device for the water and the midnight blue sky.
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