Vase 1902

Curator: What a striking form. This is a vase created by the Van Briggle Pottery Company in 1902. You can find it in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: It's weighty, somehow. And muted... that brown glaze gives it an almost somber feel, despite the floral motif. Curator: That somber tone is interesting in relation to the Art Nouveau style it embodies. This style often integrated natural forms, and the production of such objects offered many opportunities for collaboration. The vase is earthenware, a readily available material that, through careful craftsmanship, gains immense value. It almost blurs the boundary between high art and the burgeoning industrial design. Editor: I agree. Art Nouveau sought to democratize beauty, bringing art into everyday life through functional objects like this vase. The rise of department stores made these sorts of accessible luxury goods popular with the middle class, allowing access to something beautiful even in a period marked by harsh industrial labor. Curator: Exactly, and the fact that this was produced by a company—not just an individual artist—highlights the changing nature of artistic production at the time. This vase likely went through several hands in the factory, each adding their skill to its completion. How might its consumption fit into the social habits of its era? Editor: Well, having this on display in your home said something. The floral motif itself—suggesting the beauty and luxury afforded by nature but arranged for your enjoyment. A carefully curated display was often a key indicator of the consumer's standing within a changing social landscape, and how aware of modern trends the occupant might be. It wasn't enough to have possessions; one needed to understand the silent conversation these items had within social contexts. Curator: And that conversation continues, even today, displayed within the glass cases of a major institution! Editor: Indeed! This unassuming earthenware object speaks volumes about societal shifts in aesthetics, manufacture, and social stratification. It is so intriguing!