Vase

About this artwork

This elegant stoneware vase, produced by the Factory of Olivier Sorra around 1885, exemplifies the late 19th-century revival of French ceramics in Pierrefonds, a hub for innovative pottery workshops. Standing at 113/4 inches (29.8 cm) tall, its sturdy form reflects the durability of stoneware—a high-fired, vitrified clay prized for its strength and subtle, earthy tones, which contrasted with the more delicate porcelain of the era. Olivier de Sorra's gained renown for blending traditional European techniques with influences from Japanese and Chinese wares, emphasizing simple shapes and textured surfaces. This vase, classified as pottery within the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection, captures that aesthetic: functional yet sculptural, it highlights the era's push toward artisanal quality amid industrialization. Gifted by Lloyd and Barbara Macklowe in 1991, it invites visitors to appreciate how Pierrefonds potters like de Sorra elevated everyday objects into enduring art.