Kraantjeskan in de vorm van een tuinvaas 1729

This is a Kraantjeskan in the form of a garden vase, made by Andele Andeles. Notice the elaborate composition, the artist has transformed a utilitarian object into a garden vase with decorative features. The entire form is constructed from layered, rounded segments, each contributing to a sense of elevation and importance. The smooth, reflective surfaces of the silver contrast with the detailed relief work which capture and play with light, adding depth. The eye is drawn to the repetitive, ornate motifs – floral and geometric patterns – that create a visual rhythm. It destabilizes the established meanings, values and categories of art and functionality. It asks us to reconsider the relationship between art, craft, and the everyday object. The silver is transformed from a simple container into a piece of decorative art. The highly stylized form invites ongoing interpretation.