Vase with Asian-inspired decoration, ca. 1880–1884
Clear glass, thin olive green overlay, mould-blown parts, fused
(H x Ø)18,5 × 11 cm
About the workTwo characteristics of this vase stand out: the dense, sometimes overlapping decoration, which stems from “horror vacui” or a fear of empty spaces, and the mixture of Japanese as well as probably Chinese-inspired motifs. The unusual shape of this vessel does not seem to have any Asian precursors; the glass and ceramics distributor Émile Gallé used it for designs inspired by the Middle East, too. The European expositions that took place between 1850 and 1900 offered a wide audience the opportunity to encounter distant cultures and aroused their interest in purchasing related souvenirs.
AccessionGift of Helmut Hentrich, 1977
Inventory numberP 1977-24
