Vase with lid c. 19th century

This lidded vase, whose maker is currently unknown, is made of porcelain. Porcelain is created from a particularly pure form of clay that is fired at high temperatures. The vase is skillfully painted and glazed to showcase the unique qualities that porcelain offers. Porcelain can handle very fine details, and a broad palette of colors. In this case, the maker has rendered birds and stylized foliage. The painting has been executed with careful precision, and the gold trim requires a sure hand. It represents a highly specialized skillset. The division of labor within ceramics manufacture allows for one person to specialize in casting the shape, another in firing, and still another in the fine art of painting the surface. These vases are not always considered art, and are often placed under the decorative arts. But the skill involved certainly deserves recognition. In fact, it's fair to say that the distinction between fine art and craft often obscures the amount of work and specialized skill involved in processes like this.