Sweets box with violets c. 1920s

Editor: This is "Sweets Box with Violets," created by Kamisaka Sekka around the 1920s. It's a ceramic piece, and I'm really struck by the contrast between the dark, almost austere lid and the warmer tones of the base. What draws your eye to it? Curator: As a materialist, I'm immediately drawn to the interplay between form and function, and how that relates to Sekka's craftsmanship and the broader culture of consumption at the time. It is a sweets box, implying domesticity and refinement. However, I ask: What materials are employed and how does the process of ceramic production contribute to the value of the box? Editor: So, the ceramic aspect… does that point to a blending of “high art” and craft? Curator: Precisely! Ceramics have a long history as both functional objects and fine art. Sekka challenges those boundaries. This wasn't just a vessel; the material choices, from stoneware to decorative ceramic glaze, elevate its status. We can explore labor: consider the labor involved in its creation and how it was received and circulated. What level of craftsmanship and division of labor went into this particular piece? Editor: I see what you mean. So, it's not just about admiring the pretty violets; it's about understanding the social and economic forces that allowed for its creation. What would such a piece be “worth” back then? Curator: Think of it this way: the stoneware’s availability and cost impacted the sweets box's final value and determined who could access and consume from it. By acknowledging the tangible aspect of it, such as stoneware in particular, can bring insight to class and value. Editor: I hadn’t really considered that before – focusing on the materials really opens up a whole new layer of interpretation. Curator: Indeed. By considering what composes “Sweets Box with Violets”, we go beyond admiring a pleasing scene.