Vase by József Molnár

Vase

József Molnár · 1898

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“Stop to admire this vase's captivating iridescent surface, a result of a pioneering Hungarian glazing technique. Its flowing lines and stylized floral decoration embody the Art Nouveau movement's embrace of nature and decorative beauty.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

This elegant vase shimmers with a remarkable iridescent surface, a result of the eosin glazing process perfected by Hungary's Zsolnay ceramics manufactory in 1893. The technique creates a lustrous, almost metallic sheen that catches the light, making the earthenware appear to shift in color. Delicate, stylized golden trees reach upwards, their branches adorned with pendant clusters of pink and ruby-red flowers, creating a sense of natural beauty rendered in a highly decorative style. This ornamentation is attributed to József Rippl-Rónai, an artist who spent 15 years in Paris as part of the Nabis, a collective of young painters interested in decorative art and symbolism. The vase, made in 1898, reflects the Art Nouveau movement's embrace of organic forms and flowing lines, transforming a functional object into a captivating work of art.

DETAILS
Artist
József Molnár
Date
1898
Medium
Lead-glazed earthenware with iridescent glazes
Location
Art Institute of Chicago
Dimensions
H.: 27.9 cm (11 in.)
Collection
Applied Arts of Europe
Culture
Hungary
Credit line
Purchased with funds provided by Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Buchbinder and Quinn E. Delaney
LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Vase
01

The rainbow-like shimmer on the surface, a hallmark of eosin glaze.

02

Stylized golden trees with slender trunks and sweeping branches.

03

Clusters of small pink and ruby flowers hanging like jewels.

04

The elegant, elongated neck and gently swelling body of the vase.

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THE ARTIST

József Molnár

1821–1899 · Hungary

József Molnár was a Hungarian painter known for his landscapes and historical scenes, who also spent time painting portraits in Stuttgart.

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