Royal Worcester Aesthetic Movement Japonisme Porcelain Vase

Description

A Royal Worcester porcelain “variety” vase, made in 1876 in the japonisme style.

The forced opening of Japan to trade … more A Royal Worcester porcelain “variety” vase, made in 1876 in the japonisme style.

The forced opening of Japan to trade in 1854 led to a craze for Eastern design in the Western world. As Asian goods flowed into the Europe and North America, designers soon began adapting motifs for their own wares. Japonisme became an influential branch of Aesthetic design which valued the exotic, non-Western designs as morally superior, free from the corrupting influences of European industrialism and capitalism. This Royal Worcester vase was designed in 1876, not long after French art critic Philippe Burty coined the term “japonisme” in 1872. The visual vocabulary of japonisme, if not the word itself, must have been present in the artist’s consciousness: the influence of Aesthetic Movement japonisme is clear in this petite vase.

Dimensions: 6 in. L x 6 in. W x 6 in. H (15.24 cm L x 15.24 cm W x 15.24 cm H)
Condition: Very good. Small chip to one of the orb’s openings measuring 0.8 cm. Light crazing throughout.

References:
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2018.62.85 and 2018.62.86 less