Vase 1875 - 1885

This diminutive vase was created by the Chelsea Keramic Art Works in the late 19th century. Its form is strikingly unconventional, marrying a dark, lustrous green glaze with ornate sculptural elements. Note the almost theatrical contrast between the smoothness of the vessel and the intricate floral and figurative details. The vase exemplifies the aesthetic principles of its time, embracing both naturalistic motifs and stylized forms. Observe the symmetrical placement of the cherubic faces at the vessel's rim, which flank the organic yet orderly botanical relief at the base. These semiotic signs, drawn from classical and natural worlds, create a discourse between idealized beauty and the raw, untamed aspects of nature. The vase embodies a tension between functionality and ornamentation. It is in this interplay of forms and meanings that the vase transcends its utilitarian purpose, becoming a complex object of aesthetic contemplation.