Vase 1877 - 1885

This vase was made by T.J. Wheatley & Company in Cincinnati, a pottery center at the turn of the 20th century. It's earthenware, meaning it's made of clay fired at a relatively low temperature, and then decorated with colored slips, or liquid clay. Notice how the painting of a tempestuous seascape takes advantage of the vessel's curved surface, and the qualities of the ceramic material. The watery scene is rendered with a limited palette, using the clay's natural color and texture to evoke the feeling of a stormy night. The shiny glaze adds to the illusion of wetness and movement. The Wheatley Pottery was one of many American firms that sought to elevate ceramics from industrial production to an art form. They employed skilled decorators who could produce individual works of art, but did so on a relatively large scale. By appreciating the role of materials and making in works like this, we can move beyond the traditional hierarchy between art and craft.