Pair of nozzled vases 1795 - 1899

Editor: Here we have a pair of ceramic sculptures, “Pair of Nozzled Vases” by Samson and Company, created sometime between 1795 and 1899. There's such a whimsical feel to them with the duck head details and little flower-holding spouts! How would you interpret a piece like this? Curator: Ah, whimsical indeed! To me, these vases whisper tales of elaborate tablescapes and garden parties long ago. Imagine them filled with fragrant blooms, perhaps even arranged just so to catch the light. Those duck heads—they're almost cheeky, aren’t they? Asking, are we art, or are we dinnerware? Editor: That's a fun way to look at it. They do have a bit of a double life, don't they? Are the floral designs symbolic at all? Curator: Possibly. Without specific documentation, the flowers might simply be decorative, an echo of the natural world brought inside. It could also mirror the Dutch still life paintings of the time. Aren't they stunning in their way? A delightful pastiche, you could almost argue. Editor: I've definitely learned to see how these blend form and function in such an unexpected way. Curator: And perhaps now, a bit more whimsy, too?