This porcelain vase and matching dish i found on Trademe fit under the design category of French Rococo, a style that was popular in France around the 18th Century.
“The Rococo style is characterized by pastel colors, gracefully delicate curving forms, fanciful figures, and a lighthearted mood. Extreme highlights are placed on the subject matter, and the overall work is light in color, effect, and emotion. Artists paid special attention to fine detail....Critics condemned it as "tasteless, frivolous, and symbolic of a corrupt society". - (huntfor.com (2007) Rococo 1700-1760)
As can be seen from this description this vase and plate fit perfectly into the rococo style. The curves and lack of straight lines and angles in the vase in particular follow the idea of Rococo’s focus on organic forms and feminine curve rather than geometric shapes. The design painted on the pieces also fit the style as they are done in pastel colours, traditional to rococo and are of objects found in nature (i.e flowers and leaves). The gold trimmings and curves that decorate the pieces were also place them in the Rococo era as this was a key design feature of most Rococo ornaments and hinted at the idea of wealth.
The pieces capture the sense of rococo design being more about objects that are fun and decorative rather than practical. This is exactly what was of most critics of the time hated about french rococo, that form didn’t follow function, the decoration of an object had no sense of purpose. This is an idea that is present in these pieces, for example, why is the shape of the vase curved and dented when its purpose is to hold flowers together in a circular bunch?
“Porcelain is characteristically Rococo material...The enduring admiration for China and its exotic appeal prompted the production of Chinese-style porcelain objects.” - (Marco Bussagli, Mattia Reiche (2009) Baroque and Rococo). The term Chinoiserie refers to an art style that is influenced by and reflects qualities of chinese design. In the 18th Century porcelain from China was the latest craze, it was imported and combined with french rococo style to create pieces that were of a similar style to this vase and dish. Because porcelain had to be imported and ornaments hand made, the price of original porcelain ornaments was immense and was the kind of luxury that only the wealthy could afford. However, nowadays porcelain is a common commodity that is available all over the world and thousands of mass produced cheap porcelain knock offs in rococo style such as this vase and dish, which are selling for only $30, can be found all over.
Bibliography:
Print: Bussagli, Marco, Reiche, Mattia (2009), 'Baroque & Rocco,' London, Sterling Publishing Company, Pg 121
Website: Huntfor.com, (2007) 'Rococo 1700-1760', Retrieved 25th April from:
http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/c17th-mid19th/rococo.htm
Trademe image: trademe.co.nz, (2012) 'Beautiful Rococo China' Retrieved from:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/pottery-glass/porcelain-pottery/other-european-manufacturers/auction-469032116.htm
