Ewer with cover 1850 - 1899

Editor: So, this gorgeous piece is called "Ewer with cover", dating from between 1850 and 1899, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and made by Reinhold Vasters. I'm immediately struck by its delicacy - the glass seems so fragile, almost ethereal. How would you interpret this work, in terms of its materials and form? Curator: Ah, yes, ethereal is the perfect word. When I look at it, I see Vasters playing with our perceptions. The clear glass is both substantial and practically invisible. This almost challenges the value we put on ornate decoration by suggesting beauty is equally found in transparency, wouldn’t you agree? It invites contemplation, like looking into a crystal ball. It begs the question, what do you pour from such a beautiful ewer? Dreams, perhaps? Editor: That's beautiful! Dreams… And the little face on the lid! Curator: Precisely! And it is gazing back, scrutinizing what it’s about to release into the world, I imagine. It’s almost as if Vasters is poking fun at the seriousness we often attach to fancy objects, while simultaneously crafting something exquisite. Do you get a sense that it's about both holding and releasing secrets? Editor: Absolutely. It’s both ornate and quite minimalist at the same time; now I see it! Curator: Exactly! A paradox, beautifully resolved. I like the way the light dances off the glass and metal trim. What did you learn in observing this piece? Editor: Well, I learned to really consider what an artist might be subtly saying and that what we find attractive might often have two sides to the story. How about you? Curator: It’s a good reminder of the potential of simple materials elevated through craft and, of course, our own capacity to pour meaning into whatever we observe.