Pitcher 1875 - 1885

Artist: Oh, this little porcelain beauty sings to me! It's giving off such a serene, almost dreamy vibe, like a whispered secret from the past. Curator: Absolutely. What we're looking at here is a pitcher made by the Union Porcelain Works, somewhere between 1875 and 1885. Look closely at the craftsmanship! It's an exquisite piece of decorative art. The Met has it now. Artist: What grabs me first are those elegant, almost ghostly white figures in relief against the soft, muted background—such intriguing imagery! There is an almost narrative tension that emerges between the two primary figures. It stirs the imagination! Curator: Exactly! The production process must have involved meticulously layering porcelain to achieve that detailed relief. The way they manipulated the material to create depth and shadow is technically impressive. We shouldn't underestimate the labor behind this level of craftsmanship and the resources poured into its design. Artist: And what about the choice of color? That delicate pale turquoise contrasts beautifully with the gold accents and the almost comical yet regal-looking animals forming the spout and handle. There's a playful, theatrical touch to it that just tickles my senses! I see a hint of subtle opulence that speaks of grand feasts. Curator: True. The form challenges assumptions about fine art; by examining items of utility and décor as a cultural product, the question emerges, were all involved complicit or collaborators? Porcelain wasn't simply a medium; it was deeply enmeshed in commerce, aspiration, and industrial skill sets and should be appreciated and studied within the landscape of America's complicated gilded age. Artist: Well, standing here contemplating this Pitcher, I'm carried away. It has stories to tell! And what about you, what do you get from this experience? Curator: I find myself thinking about the workers who actually brought this into being. It stands testament to the relationship between production and society that goes beyond beauty, something almost as lovely as the vessel itself.