Vase 1896 - 1902

Editor: Standing here, gazing at this earthenware vase by Charles Volkmar, made sometime between 1896 and 1902, I’m struck by the mesmerizing deep blue glaze. It almost feels like a captured piece of the ocean. What emotional resonances do you find in its colour and form? Curator: It evokes a sense of tranquility and depth, doesn't it? The colour mirrors lapis lazuli or perhaps the deep sea, universally associated with wisdom, serenity, and the unconscious. Volkmar was working during the Art Nouveau period; the clean lines speak to the hope for societal transformation at the turn of the century, suggesting continuity but within modernity. Does the simplicity itself say anything to you? Editor: It feels very pure. Almost elemental in its form and colour. The curve feels feminine too, and is a contrast to the modern ambition, perhaps suggesting its limitations. Curator: I'm drawn to how Volkmar distilled these feelings into a tangible, enduring symbol. Even something as everyday as a vase transcends its utility, and becomes a potent container of collective emotions and ideas. The white lining is suggestive, would you agree? Editor: I think the pureness of the lining is about what the vase can be filled with. Perhaps optimism and hope! It feels more meaningful hearing how he translated turn of the century cultural themes. Curator: Absolutely. Seeing how a seemingly simple object can encapsulate such layers of meaning is a great learning experience for me. Editor: Me too! The context helps me look deeper, noticing so much more.