Vase 1886 - 1894

Curator: Here we have a lovely example of American Art Nouveau from the late 19th century: a glass vase, crafted by the Mount Washington Glass Company between 1886 and 1894. You can currently find it on display here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: Well, it looks like a fancy Fabergé egg went on a spa day. All smooth curves and delicate ornamentation! It's whimsical and fragile at the same time, and that milky white just feels so calming. Curator: Absolutely. The vase's form is deceptively complex; notice the slender, twisted neck that transitions into a pear-shaped body. This silhouette creates an interesting tension. What semiotic readings does that offer? Editor: It reminds me of those old perfume bottles... but something about the floral embellishments, tiny dotted spirals especially, make it feel less functional and more purely ornamental. Does it evoke scent, or even femininity itself? Curator: Interesting thought! Considering the context, Mount Washington Glass was celebrated for its innovative techniques and high-end products. So we need to investigate form, materiality, color and ornament here... For instance, observe the subtle gradations of the white glass—its opacity manipulated to enhance depth. The hand-painted gilded designs create another layer. Editor: And these cute handles. Like little angel wings! I'd imagine holding flowers or, more likely, some decadent bath salts back in its day... it makes me nostalgic for a time I didn’t even live through. Curator: I think that this vase stands as a potent symbol of its era, when artistic experimentation blended harmoniously with functional design. Each component tells us something significant about late 19th-century design and production, especially with the interplay between light and shadow that offers structural depth, despite the medium's fragile appearance. Editor: For me, it is still the overall feel... a visual poem dedicated to simplicity. But your analysis provides the backbone to those emotional feelings! I love how art can connect us both intellectually and sensorially.