Keramisk fad 1893

Curator: Immediately striking! It has this bold, almost primal feel to it. Like ancient writing…or even some kind of architectural crown design, repeated and circling around. What do you think? Editor: That's a sharp observation! This piece is "Keramisk fad", or Ceramic Dish, crafted in 1893 by Thorvald Bindesbøll. We are incredibly lucky to have it here at SMK, The National Gallery of Denmark. Bindesbøll was deeply involved in the decorative arts, especially during the Art Nouveau movement. His integration of pure geometry is just remarkable here. Curator: Geometric shapes, absolutely! But it goes further. There is something symbolic and psychological about these repeated figures… Do they speak to themes of royalty, perhaps some crown iconography repurposed within this new artistic moment? I could see this form becoming popular, something for wealthy families to have on display and spark dialogue in their living rooms. Editor: Definitely, and it’s fascinating you pick up on that feeling of power—these kinds of pieces were incredibly aspirational in their time, symbolizing status. Art Nouveau, though revolutionary, still operated within patronage systems and these designs, these handcrafted ceramic works were destined for particular drawing rooms of wealthy individuals. Bindesbøll here pushes boundaries. Curator: So, we have art pushing aesthetic and societal bounds, all happening on this singular dish. Editor: Absolutely, it serves as this intriguing historical window to a rich period of societal and aesthetic change! We get to explore material culture with our bare eyes. Curator: I agree; this one dish encapsulates a time when even functional items became imbued with the potential for visual and cultural narratives, for shifting collective aspirations. It seems almost like these "crowns" march across time themselves. Editor: A powerful notion. To think about what this dish saw over the course of history. Absolutely wonderful. Curator: Wonderfully considered and now for audiences to experience themselves! Editor: Precisely! I hope this piece will inspire each visitor who beholds it.