Neoclassical vase (one of a pair)
Unknown Artist
1780–85
Medium
Pine, marbleized and carved
Dimensions
Height: 36 3/4 in. (93.3 cm)
Classification
Woodwork
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1906
Accession Number
07.225.13b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant Neoclassical vase, one of an exquisite pair crafted in France around 1780–85, stands as a testament to the opulent decorative arts of the late Ancien Régime. Rising to an impressive 36 3/4 inches, it embodies the neoclassical revival of ancient Greek and Roman forms—clean lines, balanced proportions, and motifs inspired by antiquity—popular among the French aristocracy on the eve of the Revolution. Floral elements, likely carved into its surface, add a touch of natural grace, evoking the era's fascination with classical symmetry and botanical elegance. Fashioned from pine wood, t...