Ornamental agate creamware vase 1765 - 1785

James Neale crafted this Ornamental agate creamware vase, now residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with a focus on material and form. The vase immediately strikes us with its contrasting textures and colors. The dominant brown agate effect, achieved through marbled clay, swirls across the body and lid, creating a dynamic surface. Accentuating this are bands of creamware trim, meticulously detailed with rope-like patterns and classical motifs. The handles, sculpted as female busts, disrupt the overall symmetry, introducing a human element. Neale's vase plays with the semiotics of luxury and taste of the time. The agate effect mimics natural stone, a material of high value, while the classical motifs evoke a sense of history and refinement. But the use of creamware, a more affordable material, introduces a sense of artifice. Ultimately, the vase invites us to consider how objects communicate status and artistic aspiration, through the careful manipulation of form and material.