Vaas met gestileerde bloem- en bladversiering c. 1880 - 1920

Curator: Here we have an intriguing piece from De Porceleijne Fles, a Dutch pottery manufactory, this is a vase crafted sometime between 1880 and 1920. Its earthenware body is adorned with a stylized flower and leaf pattern characteristic of the Art Nouveau movement. Editor: Oh, it's so whimsical! It gives me this fairy-tale vibe. It feels delicate, almost like it belongs in a forest, the home of elves, a Midsummer Night’s dream sort of energy... Curator: Yes, the shape itself is rather unique—that slender, geometric form topped with what look like stylized wings. And the repeated motifs of leaves and blossoms underscore the Art Nouveau’s celebration of natural forms, while demonstrating the commodification of nature by industrial manufacturing processes of the time. Editor: Right? The colors too, are restrained but cheerful, but there's a slight coldness in the geometry. A reminder maybe, of industry consuming that delicate floweriness that’s being celebrated in the ornamentation. It's pretty yet the artist perhaps wanted to acknowledge industrialization’s effects at the time? I feel the need to bring in flowers just to counterpoint it! Curator: Indeed, the interplay between decoration and industrial production raises interesting questions about art’s function within broader economic structures. Was this vase designed for everyday use, or was it meant as a purely decorative object catering to a specific consumer class? Who was buying it? And were those flower motifs more than just an aesthetic choice or perhaps they also served as silent statements about labor conditions, consumerism? Editor: Food for thought. Seeing it through your perspective sheds so much more light onto its significance. I'll look at any delicate ceramic piece I find with newfound questions to consider about material and method, after our little discussion. Curator: And perhaps now when looking at industrial design from this period we both will remember to find, or bring, our flowers, for some human-natural connection.