Vase c. 1925

This polychrome ceramic vase was made by Anton Kleiber. The first thing that strikes me is the sheer joy of putting these colours together: drippy yellow, vibrant orange, intense ultramarine. You can just imagine Kleiber in his studio, feeling the clay in his hands, adding white stripes, and seeing where the material takes him! The overall impression is one of a playful structure. There’s something so satisfying about how these forms come together, like a series of cones nested inside one another. The textures, with the drips, uneven surface, and tactile quality, are not just decorative; they’re integral to the sculpture’s character. It’s like he’s having a conversation with other makers of the time but also bringing his own voice. And that’s what art is all about: this ongoing dialogue, pushing boundaries, and inspiring new ways of seeing.