Lamp (base) 1899 - 1909

This is a lamp base, made of glazed earthenware by the Grueby Faience & Tile Company. It's green, of course, and when you look at it, you know it's green, but is it ever *just* green? The texture is so important. When you look closely, you see how the glossy surface interacts with the form’s intricate details, creating subtle plays of light and shadow. See the way the glaze pools in the crevices of the leaves, making them appear almost wet? The artist has clearly reveled in the materiality of the earthenware and glaze. The Art Nouveau style reminds me of Gustav Klimt. There's the same emphasis on decorative patterns and organic forms, but this object has a utilitarian function. The idea of blurring the boundaries between art and craft, is that what makes it so interesting? It's a bit of a conversation between art and design, isn't it?