Vase
The Chelsea Keramic Art Works was the first American ceramics firm to designate itself an "art pottery." It was founded in Chelsea, Massachusetts, by members of the Robertson family, all of whom had honed their skills in the ceramics industry in Britain before coming to this country. This vase features a fully modeled wildflower spray in white clay over a reddish, mustard-colored glaze. Such naturalistically rendered and asymmetrically arranged plant sprays in relief conformed to the decorative taste of the Aesthetic Movement in the late 1870s and 1880s (see also 2018.294.21; 2018.294.31).
This vase is from the Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection of American art pottery donated to the Metropolitan Museum in 2017 and 2018. The works in the collection date from the mid-1870s through the 1950s. Together they comprise one of the most comprehensive and important assemblages of this material known.
This vase is from the Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection of American art pottery donated to the Metropolitan Museum in 2017 and 2018. The works in the collection date from the mid-1870s through the 1950s. Together they comprise one of the most comprehensive and important assemblages of this material known.
Artwork Details
- Title: Vase
- Manufacturer: Chelsea Keramic Art Works (1872–1889)
- Designer: Hugh C. Robertson (1844–1908)
- Date: ca. 1877–84
- Geography: Made in Chelsea, Massachusetts, United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Earthenware
- Dimensions: 7 15/16 x 3 3/4 in. (20.2 x 9.5 cm)
- Credit Line: Gift of Robert A. Ellison Jr., 2018
- Object Number: 2018.294.29
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Chelsea Keramic Art Works
Hugh C. Robertson
Chelsea Keramic Art Works
1879–83
Chelsea Keramic Art Works
Hugh C. Robertson
ca. 1882–89
Chelsea Keramic Art Works
1879–83
Chelsea Keramic Art Works
ca. 1886–89
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.