New Acquisition Spotlight: Rookwood Sea Green Vase with Dragonfly

Recently acquired by the Two Red Roses Foundation is the Sea Green Vase with Dragonfly, produced by the Rookwood Pottery Company in 1901. The relatively small vase – just over 5-inches tall- is decorated with lightly drawn flowers in a haze of green, blue, and yellow hues. Circled around the mouth of the vase is a bronze flower and dragonfly with outstretched wings perched on one side of the vase, creating a pleasing asymmetrical composition. The juxtaposition of painted bronze on glazed earthenware invite closer inspection of this curious vase to discover the intricate details sculpted in the bronze.

Developed in 1899, the electrodeposit method allows for different metals to be introduced in the decoration of vases. The area that is to have the metal is left unglazed. Then, using a process of transferring metal through a solution, the metal of choice is affixed to the surface of the pot resulting in a striking combination. The collection of the Two Red Roses Foundation contains two other vases that utilize this same technique, creating wonderfully whimsical compositions.

Kitaro Shirayamadani’s Vase with Dragon (Rookwood Pottery, 1900), similarly perches a dragon atop the mouth of a vase fiery orange and yellow vase, as if protecting what’s inside.

John Wareham’s Vase with Octopus (Rookwood Pottery, 1898) makes use of the creature’s long tentacles wrapping around the vase as if pulling it down to the dark ocean’s depths.

See Rookwood Pottery’s Sea Green Vase with Dragonfly, on display now in MAACM’s 4^th floor pottery gallery.