Tall Vase with chrysanthemum and bamboo design c. early 20th century

This tall vase with chrysanthemum and bamboo design was anonymously made at an unknown date with an unknown medium. I love how the blue flowers creep up and around the pale surface of the vase. It's a strange, soft blue, almost grey in places. Imagine the person who made it, patiently applying each brushstroke, working around the curves of the form. You can tell the artist knew their craft so well, they could do it in their sleep. Each flower is slightly different from the next, with petals unfurling and overlapping. The bamboo adds a touch of elegance and lightness, like a calligraphic gesture. The vase feels like it's breathing, expanding, and contracting, like a conversation between the maker and the clay. It makes you wonder about all the other anonymous artisans who have contributed so much beauty to the world, inspiring one another to create.