Vaas 1843

Curator: Well, isn't that something. My immediate reaction is, this thing just *gleams*. Editor: Indeed. Before us we have "Vaas," an 1843 silver sculpture currently residing here at the Rijksmuseum. It was crafted by Antoine Vechte, a master of relief work. Curator: Relief, that's right. It's so richly detailed! It's hard to believe this is all…silver? I mean, the craftsmanship is impeccable, the figures practically leap off the surface, but look closer – you see the individual marks of the chasing tools all over the background! It gives it a depth it wouldn’t have otherwise. The metal itself just sings, doesn't it? Editor: The use of silver certainly elevates its status beyond mere functionality. The Baroque influence is undeniable; it exhibits an exuberant sense of motion and ornamental complexity. The scenes are allegorical, the human form idealized, but what underlying messages were Vechte hoping to express? Curator: Oh, you’re thinking about iconography? Maybe classical allusions? What I find fascinating is what this suggests about the process of producing this kind of high art, as opposed to thinking only about art’s messages. Who financed the piece? The laborious effort involved suggests either commissioned work for the wealthy or perhaps intended for royal use. What statements might it be making, however subtly, about labour and consumption through all this materiality? Editor: It’s true the artist’s labour is undeniable, it really captures light and is reflected throughout this vase. Focusing purely on form for a moment; it leads the eye upward through the elaborate stem. What story do these tiers visually express to the viewer as it travels to its peak? I see such meticulous detail. Curator: All that intricate detail definitely signifies power and extravagance within 19th century decorative arts, especially considering its size. I can’t help but consider the labour—the skilled labor of the artisan who crafted the vessel versus the owner's means to procure it. How the system reproduces that power is everything to me. Editor: An intriguing object, and approach! Its visual balance is quite extraordinary; from an examination of its themes it leads to even more insight! Curator: Precisely! This sculpture offers a look into its means, a complex statement concerning labor in decorative art during its era. It also offers a unique, artistic lens into history itself.