Vase

Art Historical Context

This delicate Parian porcelain vase, by an unknown American artist between 1830 and 1870, exemplifies the refined decorative arts of mid-19-century America. Standing just 4 3/4 inches tall, its petite form (4 3/4 x 2 1/4 in.) made it ideal for Victorian parlors, where such objects adorned mantelpieces and tabletops. Parian porcelain an unglazed, matte-white material resembling fine marble, was a popular innovation of the era, prized for its smooth, biscuit-like texture that highlighted intricate details without the sheen of traditional glaze. The vase likely features floral motifs—a hallmark ...