The bronze Zodiac Beaker, placed in the Norton Simon Museum, was made in 1332, in East Java, a province of Indonesia. The beaker requires the viewer to walk completely around the object in order to observe and identify the different details of the piece. The size, flat bottom design, and the material the beaker is made of makes this piece a functional object.
The large size of the Zodiac Beaker suggests that this piece was a functional object in the past. The space within the beaker indicates that it was used to collect different forms of liquid for consumption. When it rained, the beaker could have been used to collect water. The five foot four inch beaker has both depth and width, which allows the people to collect large sums of water. The amount of water gathered with one beaker would likely provide the people with the amount they needed for a long period of time. Not only was it functional in that it allowed people to collect water, but it was also likely used to store food such as crops. The large beaker allowed people to carry all their assortment of crops from one place to another without having to carry the food in their bare hands. The fact that the people could store their things in the beaker allowed all their belongings to stay together without being lost. The beaker was also made big enough to allow people to wash their clothing. In addition, the large size suggests that the beaker was an object in which people could store their personal and valuable items. These items include clothing, jewelry, and even their tools that they used for hunting and harvesting their food. In addition, the beaker enabled people to keep personal items in memory of their loved ones, such as their clothing, jewelry, or even their sacred r...
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...ble to store water and different kinds of food in the beaker, they were not forced to use it all at once, and could use the amount that was needed momentarily because the bronze material would not perish the objects in the beaker. Although the bronze material could have rusted overtime due to its frequent use, it was likely washing the beaker was an easy task that allowed people to reuse it when needed.
The Zodiac Beaker, used by the people of Indonesia, served many functions for the community as suggested by the size, flat bottom design, and material that was used to construct the object. It allowed people to store their possessions in the beaker and place it in their homes, as it was not intended to be carried for a long period of time but to be placed down. The Zodiac Beaker was a practical object in the 14th century that worked effectively within the community.
When visiting the McKissick Museum I was engrossed by the American Folk Art, ceramic Face Jugs, also known as ugly or grotesque jugs. There are gaps in the history in regards to how the face jugs were made, what they were used for, and the meaning of the face vessel pottery. However it is believed that these vessels were original, useful, creative expressions of the African slave culture of the time created as early as the seventeenth century. Few artists of face jugs have been identified and their inspirations for producing the vessels are not completely known. According to Hirst, it is believed that this art form originated in Edgefield County South Carolina, from African slaves who worked on the plantations as potters. They worked on these jugs after work and it’s believed that they were a product of the heritage and tradition from Africa and held a spiritual connection for the potters. Hirst also stated that, Dave Drake, a slave and employee of a pottery factory is the only known producer to ever be allowed to sign and put the date of manufacture on some of his face jug work.
The exhibition of recent stoneware vessels by Peter Voulkos at Frank Lloyd Gallery featured the sort of work on which the artist established reputation in the 1950s. The work was greeted with stunned amazement. However now it is too, but it's amazement of a different order -- the kind that comes from being in the presence of effortless artistic mastery. These astonishing vessels are truly amaising. Every ceramic artist knows that what goes into a kiln looks very different from what comes out, and although what comes out can be controlled to varying degrees, it's never certain. Uncertainty feels actively courted in Voulkos' vessels, and this embrace of chance gives them a surprisingly contradictory sense of ease. Critical to the emergence of a significant art scene in Los Angeles in the second half of the 1950s, the 75-year-old artist has lived in Northern California since 1959 and this was his only second solo show in an L.A gallery in 30 years.”These days, L.A. is recognized as a center for the production of contemporary art. But in the 1950s, the scene was slim -- few galleries and fewer museums. Despite the obscurity, a handful of solitary and determined artists broke ground here, stretching the inflexible definitions of what constitutes painting, sculpture and other media. Among these avant-gardists was Peter Voulkos.” In 1954, Voulkos was hired as chairman of the fledgling ceramics department at the L.A. County Art Institute, now Otis College of Art and Design, and during the five years that followed, he led what came to be known as the "Clay Revolution." Students like John Mason, Paul Soldner, Ken Price and Billy Al Bengston, all of whom went on to become respected artists, were among his foot soldiers in the battle to free clay from its handicraft associations.
Jenkins, Ian. “The 1930’s Cleaning of the Parthenon Sculptures in the British Museum,” The British Museum (2001): http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/parthenon/
The Greek krater is only one of many forms of ceramics found throughout the Greek world. The existence of the krater stems from the Greek’s custom of drinking wine diluted with water. The krater was used for mixing. While all kraters feature a large open mouth for dispensing the wine, there are four distinctive styles recognised by Historians. This investigation will be focusing on a krater that is currently housed in the Classics Museum at the Australian National University. The krater is a particular style known as the ‘column krater’ identifiable by the position of its handles.
Shiho Kanzaki had an influence on the history and development of Ceramics. Shiho’s work shows the purpose of what it means for a pottery to be really appealing to people. He got a hold of all details of the use of the completed product into account in the foundation of his pieces. His jars, bowls, urns, and teapots have a simple beauty where the form meets the purpose of the mission, featured by a beautiful glazing. These works of his continue an unharmed line of tradition culture that is as important throughout the globe as it is for the people of Shigaraki, where he grew up.
There are various objects needed to conduct a tea ceremony. Most important among them are ceramics: the tea-caddy, the tea bowl, the flower vase, the incense burner, the incense container, the water jar, the ladle rest, the rest for the cover of the jar, the ash container, the cake bowl, the plate to place charcoal brazier, and candle-holders and other paraphernalia for decoration and atmosphere. Furthermore, such utensils used in the light dinner served before the tea rite called the kaiseki, food dishes and bowls, wine bottles and wine cups are to be numbered, the majority of implements for use in the tea-ceremony are pieces of ceramics.
According to TheGuardian, a statue of Apollo was found somewhere deep in the sea. A rare bronze statue of the Greek god Apollo was discovered this week in the Gaza strip after being lost for centuries" (pg, 1) It's significance is uncanny because who knows how old the statue really is. We could give it an approximate, perhaps centuries, but nothing precise. It was found by a Palestinian fisherman who said it was very difficult getting it up ashore. A local Palestinian fisherman, Joudat Ghrab, says he discovered the bronze statue on the seabed last year but was unaware of its significance. It took him and his family four hours to drag the statue ashore" (pg, 2). It's astonishing that they found such a masterpiece, simply mind blowing. Oddly
The Mesopotamian art work above is a relief sculpture plaque made out of stone-like material. The plaque has a distinct narrative that has been divided into three registers, and which is read from the bottom register upwards, in a left to right motion. In addition, there is a vertical rectangle cut in the middle of the plaque which might suggest that something belonged there.
The front of the jar includes a large gathering of people, around a great open house or tower, used as a meeting spot. The left side includes, about fifteen people, either walking on a bridge above the water, or in a boat on the water. The right side
Symbolism is what a person represents. Symbolism can be an object, person, situation, events or actions that have a deeper meaning in context. The dove is a symbol of peace. A red rose or red color stands for love or romance. Black is a symbol that represents evil or death. A ladder may stand as a symbol for a connection between the heaven and the earth. A broken mirror may symbolize separation. Symbolism is a meaning of heritage from the past ancestors like quilts, butter churns, front yards, and knowing how to make quilts from old dresses can represent symbolism. For example quilts can represent what the family from the past have done and what their experienced on. In this short story ‘Everyday Use’ all the objects represent symbolism.
The artist is unknown as most Chinese ceramics of the finest quality are industrially made and very few names of artists are known or recorded. The piece has a fairly large size (18 in. x 19 in.) compared to other Chinese porcelain. The upper part of the piece is curved inwards, creating a thin and elegantly constructed “lip”. The downward length of the neck takes slightly less than half of the whole size of the piece, as it connects to a “body” characterized by a strong curvature in the “shoulder” area of the piece. The shoulders connect to the “foot” with an inward curve. This particular vase does not have handles. The foot of the vase is thin and elegantly made, like the lips. The size of the figures painted on the vase varies and, relative to the size of the trees, the scale used to make the images smaller is not realistic. The artist has painted a horizontal line that starts from the lips of the vase and ends at the foot, marking the start of the panorama view that the audience should follow when observing the
The earliest recognized kettle-shaped vessel was discovered in Mesopotamia and dates back to between 3500 and 2000 B.C.E. It’s made from bronze and features a decorated spout. However, aside from its similar shape, experts don’t believe that it shares any comparable functions with the kettle which has evolved over the past 200 years. The history of the electric kettle is linked with that of early iron and copper kettles, which were originally used for cooking. Kettles for cooking eventually evolved into tea kettles, which took different forms in various countries. The elegant Russian samovar, made of metal, is thought to have originated in Persia. In England, silver kettles became part of the English tea tradition
The handle of the kettle look simple and is curved with balance” (Abdulaziz . par 5). These unique design elements that Bernhs created combined gave the kettle a industrial design look to them, balanced yet very modern and trendy during that time period. The last design standard of industrial design was the use of technology in this product. This technology used inside the kettle was a very innovative design; there was no product like it. In fact, according to collections.com, in the Inside of the kettle there was electric wiring, and it ran along the inside of the kettle. This technology heated the liquid up (either tea or coffee) in the kettle just by plugging it into the wall (collections .par 1). This innovative industrial technology made it possible for people’s lives to be easier, it allowed people to use this appliance anytime and anywhere. Looking at this invention, this was a unique industrial artifact because it was not only a household appliance that convenient to use anywhere, it was also a stylish statement piece in any household. This is an example of form follows
Another is a Cycladic marble statue of a harpist from the island of Keros. It was found together with Phoenician idols which points to the possibility that this harp originated in Phoenicia, which is mentioned in Greek literature as one of the countries that in ancient times used triangular stringed instruments. It also dates back to 3000 B.C.
The artifact was brought at the Michael’s Craft store at Harrisburg, PA. The artifact was an amulet that is use for granting wishes, dreams, and desires as well as ward off evil spirits. People in American society believes that the artifact has the power to protect its owner from danger or harm. The artifact also has the power to bring good luck to the user, as it is an object with magical properties. It provide feelings of comfort and protection. It is made in the early 2010’s by latest technology. The amulet is made out of many different types of materials. The amulet is round shape and made up brass metal, stainless steel, glass, metal alloy, glass beads, bamboo, iron, and crystal slide. The brass metal, stainless steel, metal alloy, iron, and bamboo makes up the majority of the body of the amulet. Glass is made at the center of the