Sugar Bowl 1910

This sugar bowl, by William Ernst Hentschel, is made from ceramic. The even finish and refined decorations are thanks to the slip-casting process. Liquid clay is poured into a mold and left to harden, a technique that allows for uniformity, speed and precision. The tulip motifs are raised from the surface of the sugar bowl, created by carving the design directly into the mold, which then is transferred to the cast. Hentschel employed a muted palette to finish the pieces, the subtle gradations of the glaze giving it a delicate, refined appearance. Slip-casting like this was often adopted by commercial potteries. But here, its used in tandem with hand-carving and nuanced glazing, challenging the notion that industrial processes can only produce objects of low quality. The sugar bowl, while beautiful, reminds us of the blurred boundaries between art, craft, and industry.