Porcelain Vase c. 1938

Curator: Oh, isn't that darling? It makes me think of teatime with a mischievous aunt. Editor: Indeed! What we’re looking at here is a drawing of a porcelain vase, dating back to about 1938, created by the artist Herbert Gallager. Curator: The starkness of the ceramic, all vanilla and cream, really amplifies those azure inlets. I can practically smell the lilacs and lavender it probably held. What do you think makes it tick? Editor: What immediately grabs me is the ornamentation. The vase’s body, predominantly the blue interior, seems structured via negative space. Note how the white-on-white botanical carvings nearly disappear—it's a dance of textures and subtle contrasts. Curator: It’s almost as though it's whispering a secret. There's an innocence, almost naïve quality to how those flowers and vines tangle. Herbert Gallager, wasn't he a commercial artist originally? Editor: Precisely! And the commercial background explains his deftness with details and eye-pleasing aesthetic. Also observe how the form plays a part in establishing a semiotic narrative. The rigid vertical lines play against the flamboyance of floral decoration. Curator: It makes you consider the vessel, it holds moments. Do you think the color has an effect to the mood of the piece? Editor: The controlled use of blue pulls us from complete immersion into the naturalism of the ceramic form. Perhaps the cool palette is a comment on industrial processes interfering with our notion of "the natural" form. Curator: Maybe this piece is a meditation on beauty—its resilience, and how even utilitarian things can carry a touch of magic. Thank you! Editor: Absolutely, and the stark contrasts and ornamentation provide the basis to start understanding American art deco through the looking glass. Thanks.