Jug 1695 - 1705

Curator: This stoneware jug, crafted between 1695 and 1705 by the Rose factory, presents a fascinating example of late Baroque decorative arts. You can find it in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: It's remarkably intricate! The floral designs are so dense, they almost seem to vibrate on the surface. There's a lively, almost playful energy despite the formal construction. Curator: Yes, consider the material context: Stoneware was often produced on a large scale. Yet, each jug involved individual handcrafting to achieve such elaborate decoration. The artist wasn’t merely decorating; they were involved in production from clay preparation to the final firing. Editor: I’m struck by how the eye moves ceaselessly across the form, led by the swelling curves of the body and the twisting handle, and pulled into the detail of each flower, each leaf. There’s a real conversation happening between shape and surface. The use of that singular colour also brings coherence to this dynamism. Curator: Exactly. These floral patterns were probably achieved through transfer printing which demonstrates the increasing industrialisation of ceramics. Despite the factory’s increasing production volumes, high standards in material processes had to be consistently met, thus blurring high art and craft. Editor: Interesting, considering the dense ornamentation of flowers and leaves that create intricate visual patterns; those patterns play out across every facet, emphasizing volume, structure, and material cohesion simultaneously. Curator: Right, a real tension there: on one hand, mass production to reach new markets; on the other, an intense labor. This stoneware piece speaks volumes about production and labor in Baroque era. Editor: I’ll concede it provides a visual anchor. Its visual components are well aligned with decorative functional ware of its period! Thank you for sharing a fresh look at "Jug", this piece merits contemplation for sure. Curator: Likewise; examining how it reflects larger issues of material consumption adds such a depth to a beautiful form!