Bottle vase 1877 - 1887

This bottle vase was designed by Christopher Dresser, a key figure in the British Aesthetic movement. It’s made of earthenware, a humble material, but the surface is anything but ordinary. The distinctive crackled glaze, known as 'crackleware,' has been achieved through a complex firing process, where the outer layer cools faster than the inner ceramic body. This creates the network of fine lines across the surface, giving the vase an aged appearance, as if it were an ancient artifact. The bright turquoise color and the textured surface combine, making it a striking object. Dresser was fascinated by Japanese design, and this vase reflects that influence in its simple, elegant form and focus on surface decoration. But it also speaks to the Victorian interest in industrial production. The vase was likely slip-cast—a process allowing for efficient production of complex shapes, reflective of a moment when art and design were increasingly intertwined with manufacturing and commerce. So, next time you see a ceramic object, remember that the material, the making, and the cultural context are all baked in—literally!