Medium
Earthenware
Dimensions
H. 11 in. (27.9 cm); Diam. 6 in. (15.2 cm)
Classification
Vase
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, The Edgar J. Kaufmann Foundation Gift, 1969
Accession Number
69.91.2
Art Historical Context
This elegant earthenware vase, crafted by the Grueby Faience Company and decorated by Ruth Erikson between 1899 and 1910, exemplifies the innovative spirit of American decorative arts during the Arts and Crafts era. Standing 11 inches tall with a 6-inch diameter, it hails from a time when artisans rebelled against mass-produced goods, embracing handcrafted beauty inspired by nature. Grueby, founded by William P. J. Grueby, pioneered matte glazes and organic motifs—often sinuous leaves and vines—in low-fired earthenware, making their pieces both functional and sculptural. Ruth Erikson, one of ...