Vase c. 1940

Curator: Here we have Charles Caseau's "Vase," created around 1940. What catches your eye initially about this artwork? Editor: The stillness. There’s something so stoic about the vase, this utilitarian object, elevated. The muted tones enhance the sense of quietude, of holding stories within its ceramic form. Curator: It’s fascinating to consider that interplay between utility and artistry, especially given that Caseau seems to have focused so intensely on the specifics of the object’s production. Look closely – can you make out the manufacturer’s mark? C. Crolius, Manufacturer, New York. Editor: Yes, that inscription! Crolius... that name resonates. Isn't that a significant pottery family from early America? Suddenly, it's not just a vase, but a symbol connecting us to early American craft and industry. Curator: Precisely. By meticulously depicting the Crolius mark, Caseau draws our attention to the origins of the vase itself. The material make up and its creation. Watercolor, crayon, and pencil come together to document, if you will, a piece of ceramic industrial design. Editor: And the artist uses watercolors and drawings to depict something that’s almost...archaeological? The faded appearance and visible imperfections of the vase are striking. It reminds us that objects, even utilitarian ones, carry a history of labor, use, and time. They are almost totems in their own right. Curator: Certainly. Caseau, with his choice of medium, has preserved not just an image but a fragment of a past, invoking, as you noted, that feeling of connection to something handmade. Editor: Thinking about that past and the vessel, there's something melancholic too. A reminder of what endures and the subtle beauty in everyday objects. I appreciate the quiet statement that it is. Curator: Yes, seeing Caseau's dedication to recording an element of our manufactured heritage has me appreciating how daily craft is an artform in its own right. Editor: And now, I will also consider how many items carry stories, all one has to do is look to find them.