Designed by Christopher Dresser (English, born Scotland, 1834-1904)
Made by Ault Pottery (Swadlincote, Derbyshire, England, 1887-1923)
Grotesque Vase
INV-1589
Designed by Christopher Dresser (English, born Scotland, 1834-1904)
Made by Ault Pottery (Swadlincote, Derbyshire, England, 1887-1923)c. 1893
gothic revivalegyptian revivalAesthetic MovementAestheticismvasevessel
Date
c. 1893
Medium
Lead-glazed earthenware
Dimensions
27.3 × 21.6 cm (10 3/4 × 8 1/2 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Purchased with funds provided by Quinn E. Delaney
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.
Also notable
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