Ornamental Vase Design

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

This print, titled Ornamental Vase Design, was created by the French artist L.N. Percenet in 1761–1762. As a work classified as a print, it reflects the 18th-century European tradition of producing reproducible images that could be shared among designers, craftsmen, and patrons. Such prints played an important role in spreading decorative ideas far beyond a single workshop. In mid-18th-century France, ornamental vase motifs were popular elements of the decorative arts. They served as models for ceramics, metalwork, furniture, and garden features, capturing the era’s taste for elegant, elaborate forms. Percenet’s design offers a glimpse into how artistic patterns circulated through printed media during this period of refined craftsmanship. The work entered the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection through a purchase by the Advisory Council. It stands as an example of the museum’s interest in European design sources that later influenced American decorative traditions, inviting viewers to appreciate the skill and imagination behind 18th-century ornamental art.