Large spill vase 1867 - 1877

This "Large Spill Vase" was made by Minton, a company with roots in the late 18th century. Minton was one of several English companies producing ceramics that catered to a market hungry for luxury goods in the 19th century. This vase is an example of the aesthetic interest in Japonisme, when objects and motifs from Japan became integrated into Western art and design. We can see this influence in the asymmetrical composition and the natural motifs on the vase. But I wonder if the vase is also an example of orientalism. The transfer of objects and aesthetic modes from East Asia to Europe was often accompanied by exploitative colonial dynamics. Even as it borrows from Japanese traditions, the vase subtly reinforces a Western perspective. This vase reveals the complexities of cultural exchange and the power dynamics inherent in those relationships. Consider how an object can embody both appreciation and appropriation, shaping our understanding of cultural identity and historical narratives.