Vase 1885 - 1899

This "Vase" was created by Ulisse Cantagalli in the late 19th century. It is made of tin-glazed earthenware, which gives it a distinctive, reflective surface. The vase presents a striking vertical composition, divided into distinct sections: the base, the bulbous body adorned with landscapes, the handles formed by stylized dolphin heads, and the fluted neck. The blue-on-white palette creates a serene yet dynamic visual experience. Notice how the cobalt pigment pools and varies in intensity. This use of color and form serves to both unify and differentiate the various elements, contributing to a sense of rhythmic visual movement. The piece engages with earlier Renaissance and Baroque traditions of decorative arts. Yet, it also destabilizes these, as the rather eccentric dolphin-shaped handles, and the somewhat crudely painted scenes indicate. Ultimately, the vase invites a re-evaluation of conventional artistic hierarchies and challenges the fixed notions of beauty and taste within the decorative arts. It's a physical paradox.