Ornamental Vase Design

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

This graceful print, titled Ornamental Vase Design, was created by French artist Charles Leviez (1708–1778) between 1756 and 1773. Working in an era of lavish decorative arts, Leviez produced designs that captured the refined elegance of mid-18th-century France. As a print, the work functioned as both an artwork and a practical model, allowing its intricate vase form to be studied and adapted by craftsmen. The mid-1700s saw French workshops leading Europe in luxury objects, from porcelain to silver. Prints like this one circulated widely, spreading fashionable ornamental ideas across workshops and collections. The vase’s flowing lines and decorative flourishes reflect the period’s taste for sophisticated, nature-inspired motifs that brought beauty into palaces and private interiors alike. Now in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, acquired through the Advisory Council, the print offers visitors a window into how artists and artisans collaborated to shape the visual culture of their time. Even with research still in progress, it remains a charming example of the era’s inventive spirit in design.