Water cooler 1870 - 1890

Editor: This intriguing ceramic piece, known as "Water Cooler," dates back to somewhere between 1870 and 1890. You can find it at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I find the cobalt blue decorations so striking. It really captures a folk-art charm. I wonder... What initially grabs your attention about this water cooler? Curator: Oh, isn't it delightful? This isn't your mass-produced Tupperware water cooler, that's for sure! What strikes me is its exuberance – it’s almost joyful. The raised dots give it a tactile quality, like it wants to be touched. I can't help but think it could have been inspired by nature—imagine a quirky pufferfish rendered in ceramic, complete with a tiny ceramic watchman perched atop, forever on guard! Editor: A pufferfish, I love that. But why would someone dedicate so much artistic energy to something seemingly so functional? Curator: Well, it transcends mere utility, doesn't it? The time was late 19th-century America. The maker, listed only as Richard Franklin (Polk) Bell, was elevating something pedestrian to an object of beauty, injecting a bit of whimsicality into everyday life. In those days, craftspeople were challenging what qualified as art. It wasn’t just about portraits of fancy ladies! There’s also that sense of permanence, the impulse to make something that would endure, bearing witness to that moment in time. What do you think the artist hoped to say through his art? Editor: It's almost like a statement. The idea that even a water cooler could be a canvas, a reflection of their world. Thank you, that gives me much to think about! Curator: Indeed. I, too, feel refreshed with that understanding, don't you agree? A playful spin that only ceramics can deliver!