Garniture of five vases 1886

Curator: Theo Colenbrander created this earthenware garniture in 1886, a stunning example of decorative art that teeters playfully on the edge of Art Nouveau. Editor: Immediately I think, "Whimsical!" The colors are so saturated, almost clashing, but somehow they sing. There's a real sense of playfulness in the asymmetrical design. Curator: It's true, Colenbrander wasn’t afraid of a bit of a visual rumble. You can really see the artist’s experimental attitude towards traditional ceramic forms; the stack of the vase is unorthodox. It’s got this almost architectural presence with layers and levels and different sections of design. Editor: Right, the manufacturing process would have been complex. Just imagining the molds needed, the different firings to achieve that layered effect of colors. I also see almost, uh, what some people consider "failed symmetry", where forms look close but aren't perfect mirror images. Curator: That almost-symmetry gives it so much life, doesn’t it? Instead of feeling rigidly formal, the garniture seems to breathe. Each element seems like a character in a quirky narrative, ready to topple over. There is that wonderful element of suspense with Colenbrander. Editor: Absolutely, that "suspense" you describe makes me consider the social context around the object. Pieces like this blur lines between fine art and craft traditions. There were whole labor forces specializing in mass produced ceramics, but an artist like Colenbrander is asking how a more “artistic” expression can disrupt traditional methods. What does he add that mass production could not? Curator: Ah, the million-dollar question. He imbues it with spirit. It transcends its functional role and speaks to a more individual expression of the maker’s touch. Something of an antidote to industrialisation. The heart, soul and unique touch. Editor: It reminds me that the 'artist' and the 'worker' have so much potential overlap and shared struggle in an era undergoing seismic shift. Curator: It's a vibrant reminder of the spirit of experimentation, daring to blend artistic flair and social commentary in something as humble and lasting as a vase. Editor: Indeed! The object’s very materiality invites reflections about labour and artistry.