Vase 1871 - 1899

Curator: This spherical vessel, simply titled "Vase," comes to us from Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat, crafted somewhere between 1871 and 1899. The medium is ceramic, residing now within the hallowed halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: Well, right off the bat, it strikes me as something profoundly earthy—elemental almost. Its somber sheen seems to absorb light. Is it meant to evoke a sense of weight, of grounding? Curator: Grounding, yes! Dalpayrat was a master of glaze effects. Here, that almost volcanic texture and color he achieved seems very intentional. If you examine that thick glaze, it almost feels like it is pulling back like liquid magma cooling to form a new skin, revealing textures. Editor: Absolutely! And how does that surface texture interact with the object’s form? The sphere is a powerful form—self-contained, suggesting wholeness and completion. The monochrome helps to focus the eye; what are we meant to do with that restricted tonal range, and stark use of light and dark? Curator: It seems to highlight the intrinsic texture. The eye isn’t distracted by color. Instead, we focus on subtle shifts in the plane; it allows him to express what the clay itself is saying, through his capable hands, of course! Editor: True! But does the shape contribute, or distract, from this experience? I keep finding it oddly modern. Almost Brancusi-esque, if Brancusi had worked with clay instead of bronze! And the small hole at the top - how do you interpret it, functionally, or conceptually? Curator: The form seems to cradle those rich glazes. I think the hole is simple! A flower vase demands, well, a hole. But what it represents…it could invite reflection on the fragility and inevitable opening of existence. After all, aren't we all just vessels containing stories? Editor: A powerful reflection—bringing form, materiality, and metaphor into beautiful alignment. That touch of simple function alongside symbolic depth really elevates the piece for me. It holds far more than flowers. Curator: Agreed, it certainly offers a deep dive into surface, light, and perception.