Skip to Content
Closed today, next open Thursday. Closed today, next open Thursday.

Grotesque Vase

A work made of lead-glazed earthenware.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

Image actions

  • A work made of lead-glazed earthenware.

Date:

c. 1893

Artist:

Designed by Christopher Dresser (English, born Scotland, 1834-1904)
Made by Ault Pottery (Swadlincote, Derbyshire, England, 1887-1923)

About this artwork

Towards the end of his career, Ault Pottery contracted Christopher Dresser to produce innovative vases and other forms for the new firm. One of his most iconic designs for Ault was this vase featuring stylized goat heads perched on elongated hooved legs. This humorous vase was part of a series of brightly colored vessels with handles constructed of grotesquely proportioned animals or humans. Grotesques are monstrous figures, such as those portrayed in stone on medieval cathedrals, which may have served as a source of inspiration for this unusual design.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Applied Arts of Europe

Artist

Christopher Dresser (Designer)

Title

Grotesque Vase

Place

Swadlincote (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1888–1898

Medium

Lead-glazed earthenware

Dimensions

27.3 × 21.6 cm (10 3/4 × 8 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Purchased with funds provided by Quinn E. Delaney

Reference Number

2002.14

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/158983/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

Share

Sign up for our enewsletter to receive updates.

Learn more

Image actions

Share