Vase 1879

This vase was made by John Bennett, likely in the late 19th century, using glazed earthenware. You can see that it's a substantial object, both in its height and rounded form. The color palette is very distinctive; the glaze has a somewhat mottled, celadon effect, against which the botanical decoration really pops. Bennett, who was British, emigrated to the United States in 1876, opening a pottery studio in New York. He sold his wares to affluent clients, many of whom were women with a keen interest in the Aesthetic Movement. Bennett's approach was quite unusual. He preferred to paint his floral motifs directly onto the surface of the clay, rather than relying on incised decoration or molded relief. In doing so, he elevated the act of ceramic painting, blurring the lines between industrial production and fine art. The amount of work involved in this production process, from the shaping of the vase to the delicate painting, really complicates any easy distinction between ‘art’ and ‘craft.’