Vase c. 1760

This vase was made by an anonymous maker, and we can't be sure where, or exactly when, but the style suggests it could be Italian, Spanish, or Mexican, and the late 17th or early 18th century. It’s an example of faience – a kind of tin-glazed earthenware decorated with colorful pigments – and it reflects the spread of this technology across Europe and its colonies during this period. Floral designs like these were popular across the early modern world, and they’re a reminder of the global exchange of goods and ideas that was transforming society at the time. Although it's difficult to know much about the maker, by studying the vase’s style, materials, and the historical context in which it was made, we can start to understand its significance as a cultural artifact. The vase provides a snapshot of the complex social and economic forces that shaped the early modern world.