Vase
ca. 1897–1900
Medium
Earthenware
Dimensions
5 1/8 x 5 1/4 in. (13 x 13.3 cm)
Classification
Vase
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Robert A. Ellison Jr., 2018
Accession Number
2018.294.173
Art Historical Context
George E. Ohr's *Vase* (ca. 1897–1900) exemplifies the bold innovation of one of America's most eccentric ceramicists, often called the "Mad Potter of Biloxi." Working in Mississippi during the late 19th, Ohr pushed the boundaries of earthenware pottery with his radical, hand-thrown forms. This small vase, measuring just over 5 inches tall and wide, showcases his signature thin-walled construction—achieved through masterful wheel-throwing techniques that verged on fragility, challenging the sturdy, utilitarian ceramics of the era. Crafted from earthenware, a low-fired clay common in American ...