Pot with dragons 1894

Curator: Oh, my first thought is 'fierce pottery'. What a wonderful sense of movement from those coiling forms. Editor: It certainly catches the eye! We’re looking at a ceramic sculpture titled "Pot with dragons" made around 1894 by R. W. Martin and Brothers. It is currently part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Curator: "Pot with dragons," is right; it seems to encapsulate so much energy. The dragons remind me of traditional East Asian depictions, all sinuous power, but the colour palette seems so restrained somehow. Is it intentional to offset the intensity of the images? Editor: It could very well be. Dragons, throughout many Asian cultures, are seen as symbols of power, wisdom, and good fortune. The contrast is quite intriguing! But, I would point to another element. It appears that the dragons and other decorative imagery aren’t simply painted. Rather, it seems there’s something else. What's your view? Curator: Indeed, that’s interesting! It appears to be almost etched or carved into the surface, that texture creates a great contrast, almost like the darkness is fighting to be released from this vessel. Like they're battling against constraint itself! The subdued earthen colour of the ceramic lends this primal aspect. Editor: I agree. This sculpture truly uses a classical, symbolic emblem and manages to make it into something fresh and original. It evokes both primal strength and incredible artistry. I imagine it as the centerpiece of a scholar's study. Curator: Yes! Perhaps something you’d find displayed at a sacred monastery; that marriage of decorative intention, with something rough-hewn underneath! Editor: It certainly possesses an ancient wisdom. Something that can also remind us of ourselves. It shows us both power and fragility, the fierce dance of life within us all. It really manages to encompass the past, present, and even, perhaps, something of the future, if we’re open to it.