Vase 1926

Charles Fergus Binns made this vase, somewhere around 1900, out of glazed earthenware. What gets me is the way the glaze drips and pools, like a slow, deliberate waterfall. The turquoise at the top fades into a deep, almost bruised blue, then into earthy browns. It's not just color; it's a record of the potter's process. You can almost see Binns tilting the vase, letting the glaze do its thing, surrendering a bit of control. That glossy surface isn't just pretty; it's a map of decisions, chance encounters, and maybe a little bit of serendipity. I see echoes of Japanese pottery here, that wabi-sabi thing of finding beauty in imperfection. It reminds me that art isn't about perfection; it's about the conversation between the artist and the material.