Vase (one of a pair)
Medium
Bone china
Dimensions
confirmed: 11 3/8 × 6 1/4 × 5 1/2 in., 2.2 lb. (28.9 × 15.9 × 14 cm, 1 kg)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
British, Worcester
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Helene Fortunoff and Robert Grossman, 2017
Accession Number
2018.62.71
Art Historical Context
This elegant vase, produced in 1879 by the Worcester factory in Britain, represents the refined craftsmanship of Victorian-era ceramics. Created from bone china—a durable, translucent porcelain developed in England during the 18th century that incorporates bone ash for its distinctive whiteness and strength—the piece highlights the technical innovations that elevated British porcelain on the global stage. Worcester, one of England’s premier factories since its founding in 1751, specialized in such high-quality wares for both domestic and export markets. As one of a pair, this vase was likely ...
About the Artist
Worcester factory · 1751–2008
The Worcester porcelain factory, established in 1751 in Worcester, England, by physician Dr. John Wall and apothecary William Davis along with 14 partners, marked the birth of one of Britain's most enduring ceramic enterprises. Investing £4,500 at Warmstry House on the River Severn, the founders drew on contacts with the Bristol porcelain manufactory to develop a novel soft-paste porcelain using s...