Moon flask rust body with central reserve 1873 - 1887

This moon flask was made by the Doulton Manufactory out of glazed stoneware. The basic form was likely made on a potter’s wheel, then built up with separately cast details like the feet and neck. The red-and-gold decoration on the body of the flask feels like an embrace of global style; it suggests both Japan and Art Nouveau. It is the product of a highly skilled ceramic factory, capable of executing incredibly precise designs. But it’s interesting to consider this piece within the wider context of the Doulton factory. They were hardly alone; in the Staffordshire region of England, there were many other large-scale ceramics producers during the Industrial Revolution, all competing to cater for a growing middle class that wanted beautiful things in their homes. Such factories relied on a complex division of labor, with some workers responsible for basic forms, and others specializing in surface treatments. The moon flask is a potent reminder that even seemingly unique artworks can be deeply enmeshed in industrial production, labor, and economics.