Medium
ceramics
Classification
ceramics
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Harry C. Sigman
Accession Number
2013-21-40
About this artwork
Four parrots resting on four branches also bearing flowers and leaves painted on a grey ground with dark pink on the interior. Colors light blue, shades of pink and green.
Art Historical Context
This elegant ceramic vase, created in 1917 by Rookwood Pottery, exemplifies the American art pottery movement that flourished in the early twentieth century. Founded in Cincinnati in 1880, Rookwood became renowned for its handcrafted vessels that blended fine art with functional design, often featuring intricate painted decorations drawn from nature. The piece’s grey ground serves as a subtle canvas for four parrots perched among flowering branches, rendered in soft blues, pinks, and greens that evoke both delicacy and vibrancy, while the dark pink interior adds a warm, unexpected contrast. R...