Vase with an Incised Decoration and Reflet Métallique Glaze c. 1900

This is a vase with incised decoration and reflet métallique glaze made by De Porceleijne Fles. This piece is an interesting exploration of surface and light, typical of the Art Nouveau movement. It stands as a cultural artifact reflecting shifting artistic identities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The metallic glaze, a key feature, engages with the historical context of industrialization. We can read the glaze as a metaphor. The fluid, shimmering surface challenges the period’s rigid social norms, reflecting a desire to escape the constraints of traditional representation. The incised decoration adds another layer, hinting at a struggle between control and freedom. The vase transcends mere decoration; it embodies the era's tension between tradition and progress, control and liberation.