Vase 1925

This vase was made by Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann and it lives in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I’m really drawn to the palette. It feels contemporary in a way, despite the date. The blues and browns are layered in such a way that they create depth and texture. It feels like a painting in itself. Look at how the forms are outlined with gold – it's so precise, like a master calligrapher at work. I mean, you could look at the way these abstracted floral patterns move around the volume of the vase for days. It's as though they're trying to escape the confines of the surface. What’s especially striking is how a single mark or gesture relates to the whole piece. The curves and spirals echo each other across the surface, creating a sense of rhythm and movement that feels almost musical. It reminds me a little of Sonia Delaunay’s work, particularly in the way she combined abstraction with decorative art. Like Delaunay, Ruhlmann seems to be interested in blurring the lines between fine art and design, elevating everyday objects to the level of high art.