Vase with powder blue, antiquities and flower sprays c. 1700 - 1724

This porcelain vase, crafted anonymously, features a striking powder blue glaze and delicate underglaze blue decorations. The powder blue effect is achieved by blowing a cobalt pigment onto the surface of the unbaked ceramic body. The speckling effect comes from the forceful application of the glaze material, creating a unique texture. The floral decorations and antiquities are painted on afterward, requiring great skill. This vase embodies the global trade of the period, with Chinese porcelain highly sought after in Europe. Its creation involved a division of labor, from the extraction of raw materials to the final decoration. Appreciating such an object means acknowledging the collective effort and the circulation of styles across cultures. By considering the materials, making, and context, we gain a deeper understanding of the vase, moving beyond traditional distinctions between art and craft, and appreciating the social and economic forces that shaped its creation.