Miniature Vase in the form of cactus or succulent
1880s
Medium
Bone china with enamel decoration and gilding
Dimensions
confirmed: 3 × 2 3/4 × 2 7/16 in., 1.764oz. (7.6 × 7 × 6.2 cm, 50g)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
British, Longton
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Helene Fortunoff and Robert Grossman, 2017
Accession Number
2018.62.164
Art Historical Context
This charming Miniature Vase in the form of a cactus succulent, crafted by Moore in the 1880s, exemplifies the exquisite porcelain artistry of Britain's Staffordshire potteries. Hailing from Longton, a hub of the ceramics industry during the Victorian era, the piece is made of fine bone china—a translucent, durable material prized for its ivory-like glow and strength, thanks to the addition of bone ash in its formula. At just 3 × 2¾ × 2⅜ inches and weighing a mere 1.76 ounces, its diminutive scale made it ideal for Victorian curiosity cabinets or mantel displays. The vase's whimsical, natural...