Plate 1920 - 1925

This is a stoneware plate made by Herman A. Kähler, a Danish artist, sometime before his death in 1917. The plate's monochrome palette immediately strikes a somber tone, with variations of grey creating depth and contrast across its surface. The design seems to be achieved through a careful distribution of glazes, allowing for pooling and layering that highlights an abstract figure, possibly a bird or a mythical creature. The crackled glaze, or crazing, isn't merely a defect but an intentional element, adding texture and a sense of age. This technique, embraced by potters, challenges the notion of perfection, inviting us to appreciate the beauty in imperfection. The use of stoneware, a durable and non-porous material, speaks to a desire for both functionality and artistic expression. The plate exists as both a utilitarian object and a canvas for artistic experimentation. This duality destabilizes the conventional boundaries between craft and fine art, prompting us to reconsider the values we assign to different forms of aesthetic creation.