Flower Vase 19th century

This flower vase was created by Takemoto in Japan during the late 19th century. It is made of glazed earthenware, with a distinctive dark drip glaze effect near the neck. Earthenware is a relatively low-fired ceramic, meaning it's porous and requires a glaze to be watertight. The glaze itself is the star here. The way it thins and streaks down the body of the vase shows us that the artist harnessed the liquid properties of the material, allowing gravity and heat to play a role in the decoration. This technique shows a real understanding of the nature of the glaze. The amount of work involved in crafting this vase goes beyond just the throwing and firing. It shows the artist's careful attention to the chemical composition of the glaze, and how it interacts with the clay body during firing. Considering this vase, we can see that the true value of ceramics is in the knowledge and skill of the maker, and how they push their materials to their expressive limits.