Vase 1903

Curator: What a dreamy thing! Looking at this, I immediately think of twilight in the Rockies, that kind of muted, almost smoky, blue light. It’s melancholic, yet there's a definite elegance. Editor: You've honed in nicely on its aesthetic. What we have here is an Art Nouveau ceramic vase created by Artus Van Briggle in 1903. The artist began producing pieces like this one in Colorado Springs at the start of the 20th century. It is currently housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Curator: Colorado! That totally nails the feel, doesn't it? Something about that height, the slender elegance… and that singular botanical design running down the center has something haunting about it. The simplicity and subtlety make you contemplate nature, and its capacity for renewal in a desolate location. Editor: Absolutely. Van Briggle developed a signature matte glaze finish and often explored organic forms. He was trying to move away from mass production to champion craftwork. Considering that America, at this time, was gripped by rapid industrial growth, these kinds of artistic choices weren't merely aesthetic, they signaled a conscious social position, critiquing standardized industrialism. Curator: Exactly, like rejecting the chaos of city life with its mass production for something authentic and connected to nature. Even that muted palette feels deliberate. How does ceramic take to those kinds of shades, that soft blending? Editor: The signature matte glazes are actually quite tricky to master, and rely on the careful mixing and application of different minerals, playing around with specific firing conditions. Each vase became an experiment in itself. So even though they were made in multiples, slight variations would surface during each firing of the kiln. It gives each item character. Curator: Each is a microcosm of artistry in production… almost a tiny manifesto, then. Looking at it this way adds something special—an intention behind this form that goes far beyond mere function. You almost see the vapor of the Rockies clinging to it. Editor: Precisely. Hopefully now, listeners will also view it with refreshed ideas about not only beauty, but purpose.