Covered box c. 1905

This covered box was made by Jacques Sicard, and it’s hard to say exactly when, but it's a beautiful example of his iridescent pottery. What's so captivating about this piece is how Sicard coaxes these shimmering, almost otherworldly colors from the clay. The surface isn't just one color, it's a dance of greens, purples, and golds, all shifting as the light catches them. Look closer, and you'll see tiny dots and delicate floral patterns emerging from the depths of the glaze, like secrets whispered across the surface. The texture is smooth, almost silky to the touch, begging you to pick it up and turn it in your hands. Think of those little dots as a kind of map or constellation, guiding your eye around the form. It reminds me of the work of the painter Gustav Klimt, who was also interested in pattern and ornamentation, but also in how surfaces can generate an almost infinite number of different optical effects. This box embraces ambiguity, inviting us to get lost in its shimmering depths.