Vase
- 127
Europe meets Asia in these vividly colored vases. A Japanese-inspired image of a carp against a waterfall decorates one vase, while the other shows a traditional European depiction of nature. In the 1860s and 1870s, Asian goods such as cloisonné enamels (metal forms covered with enamel-filled metal wire cells) flooded Western markets. This stimulated international curiosity and fueled a desire for Asian products. As a result, European and American manufacturers were quick to imitate them.
Elkington & Co.
England (Birmingham), 1829–1963
Pair of Vases
, ca. 1875Enameled and gilded brass
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Purchase:the Lillian M. Diveley Fund, 2006.36.1, 2.
Shown at the Centennial International Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876.By 1876, Europeans had initiated their own versions of Asian cloisonnés, as seen in the works of Elkington & Co. This pair of vases reveals differing stylistic influences. The vase depicting a carp against a waterfall reflects the strong inspiration of Japanese design. In contrast, the other vase, with its traditional depiction of a songbird demonstrates the intersection of European and Japanese designs and techniques.
To learn more about the process used to create these vases, please take a card and visit the interactive area in the center of the exhibition.
