Pair of vases 1795 - 1800

Curator: What strikes me immediately about these ivory vases, dating from around 1795-1800, is the astonishing detail. They are housed here at the Metropolitan Museum. Editor: They're breathtaking. That creamy white, the almost lace-like carving… they possess such an ethereal, precious quality. It's clear this Neoclassical artwork is not only an artifact of functional design but a symbol of refined taste and societal opulence. Curator: Absolutely. The medium itself speaks volumes. Ivory, a luxury commodity, would have signified considerable wealth and status in that era. Think about the labor involved—the skilled artisans painstakingly carving these intricate geometric designs and those supporting it by hunting these rare, exotic animals. The human figure on the lid is itself telling. Editor: I see a subtle elegance, reflected by the shape of the vase that adheres to classical canons: notice the base, the body, and the lid topped by a sculptural form that almost serves as a finial. Curator: Indeed, the formal structure reinforces the classicism evident throughout. Yet, if you inspect closer, the drilled detailing almost reads like filigree. In regards to their function, perhaps vases served some decorative purpose in elite social spaces... Editor: They exude the influence of antiquity. They adhere to those ideals in a formal sense: proportion and harmony with restrained ornamentation and clean lines that celebrate that rich history. Curator: Certainly. And the cultural implications! A reflection of a global trade network, colonial dynamics, and, yes, artistry and refined taste for classical virtues from an earlier period, all coalescing into a decorative object. Editor: I keep circling back to the skill required. To shape ivory with such delicate precision... the makers turned these raw materials into aesthetic showpieces, echoing back into history with whispers of wealth, influence, and classical elegance. Curator: Absolutely, an incredible feat considering what that says about the people making these types of decisions, where their food and shelter was coming from... So much can be learned from something seemingly as innocuous as a vase, once we delve into the context.