Pair of Potpourri Vases with Covers
c. 1740–60
Medium
soft-paste porcelain
Dimensions
h. 15 cm
Classification
Ceramic
Department
Decorative Art and Design
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Norweb Collection
Accession Number
1962.360
Tags
About this artwork
As beautifully designed objects, the function of these vases is not immediately apparent. Created to contain potpourri, a mixture of flowers, herbs, and spices emitting ambient fragrance, their covers are decorated with delicate flowers spaced by small, unobtrusive perforations. The decoration continues onto the body of the container where intricate ribbing emulates a basket weave.
About the Artist
Saint Cloud Porcelain Factory (French)
Georges Hugnet (1906–1974) was a multifaceted French artist, poet, writer, and critic whose innovative collages and graphic works bridged Dada and Surrealism. Born in Paris on July 11, 1906, he spent much of his early childhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, returning to France around 1913. His early life and artistic training remain sparsely documented, with no records of formal art school attendanc...