Wine bottle with stopper c. mid 20th century

This beaded wine bottle with stopper was made by Grasslands. I love how the overall form is so traditional, but the surface is radical. The whole object is covered in tiny beads in tightly controlled patterns of zig-zags and spirals. What I notice most are the black and white spirals that wind around the body of the bottle, they almost seem to move, like the object is vibrating in front of your eyes. Up close, you can see the texture of the beads, how they catch the light, this is a labor intensive process that shows a dedication to the craft. Look at the way that the beads create the shapes, it’s quite playful. The way that this piece combines a historical form with a contemporary sensibility makes me think of the way Elizabeth Murray used to approach still life, but with beads. It's about how we keep the conversation going, across cultures, across time.