Classification
ceramics
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Marcia and William Goodman
Accession Number
1984-84-23
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant vase from Rookwood Pottery, crafted in 1899, exemplifies the studio's pivotal role in elevating American ceramics to fine art status. Founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1880 and active until 1967,wood was a trailblazing enterprise that employed innovative techniques and talented artists—many of them women—to produce pieces blending functionality with artistic expression. Active during the late 19th-century Arts and Crafts movement, the studio drew inspiration from nature, Oriental ceramics, and European aesthetics, helping to establish a distinctly American pottery tradition. Though...