Vase 1882 - 1885

Curator: Here we have a vase crafted by Chesapeake Pottery between 1882 and 1885. It's currently housed here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: My goodness, it’s… aggressively green. Almost painfully verdant, like staring into the heart of an enchanted forest – or maybe just an over-fertilized lawn. Curator: The material is earthenware and, like many decorative arts pieces of the period, it’s a mix of form and function intended for household use. The technique features detailed geometric patterns, very much a mark of that era's decorative style. Editor: Right, it's practically Victorian-industrial chic. I'm getting vibes of botanical wallpaper meets ornate machinery. Look at the little feet! Are they trying to be paws? It makes me smile and makes me wonder about the intent here - domestic comfort versus artful aspirations. Curator: Precisely. These potteries emerged at a time when there was considerable interest in elevating ceramic production in America. Pieces like this vase highlight the intersection of local resources and skilled labor with broader artistic trends coming from Europe and East Asia. Editor: Absolutely. This speaks to the period. Though I'm wondering about the maker; that rich, solid glaze and the carefully raised patterns have a real confidence about them. Were they envisioning a place of pride on a polished mahogany table? Curator: Quite possibly. Its repeated geometrical patterns are about structure, as is the industrial manufacturing of ceramics, but also echo organic forms in the natural world. A tension of order and nature. Editor: So true. It's a sturdy piece that bridges high and low. Despite its almost quaint aesthetic, I think it’s hinting at modernity. Curator: Agreed, and it’s important to remember how radically “new” even historic works were in their time. It shows us something important about design then, but even still, now. Editor: Exactly! It definitely provokes conversation and begs questions - a little jewel of function meeting fantasy! I never thought a vase would get me musing this deeply.