Vase 1882 - 1890

This vase, made by Ott and Brewer, is porcelain decorated with gold, around 1876. What immediately strikes us is its symmetry and ornamentation. The classical amphora shape is enhanced by elaborate gilded handles and a base of pierced latticework. The creamy white porcelain serves as a ground for the gilded decoration of stylized flowers and leaves which swirl around the body in a dense, all-over pattern. The leaves are arranged in a semiotic system, and act as signs that communicate a symbolic language that speaks to the values and tastes of the Gilded Age. The vase’s structure reveals an obsession with luxury and display. By destabilizing the established meanings of form and function, this piece encourages us to reflect on how design elevates an object beyond mere utility.