Vase with geese

Art Historical Context

Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art,Vase with Geese* is a delightful example of early 20th-century American stoneware craftsmanship. Created by the Van Briggle Company under the direction of artist Artus Van Briggle this design originated in 1900 and was realized in 1902. just 6 1/2 inches high, the compact vase features a graceful form adorned with motifs of geese (sometimes interpreted as ducks in related tags), celebrating nature's elegance in everyday pottery. Van Briggle Pottery, founded in Colorado Springs, embodied the Arts and Crafts movement's ethos of honest materials and handmade beauty. Stoneware, fired at high temperatures for durability and a subtle, earthy texture, was a hallmark of this era's push against industrialized mass production. Artus Van Briggle's innovative glazing techniques produced the company's signature matte finishes, making pieces like this both functional and sculptural. Generously gifted by Martin Eidelberg in 2020, this vase highlights the vitality of American ceramics at the turn of the century. It invites visitors to appreciate how potters like Van Briggle transformed humble vessels into art, bridging utility and ornament in a rapidly modernizing world.

About the Artist

Van Briggle Pottery Company|Artus Van Briggle (American|American) · 1901 |1869 –9999 |1904

1901–present|American, Felicity, Ohio 1869–1904 Colorado Springs, Colorado