This striking cabinet vase is an unusual example of Rookwood artist Matthew Daly’s work in the Black Iris glaze; Daly is best known for his portrait vases in the company’s Standard Glaze.
The surface of this cabinet vase is decorated with a series of crocuses with carved detailing which stand in relief from the body. The flowers, in a deep blue-purple glaze, are contrasted by the black background. The high gloss finish is characteristic of the Iris glazes.
Rookwood introduced the Black Iris glaze in 1899, just one year before this vase was produced. Black Iris was a continuation of experiments that resulted in Rookwood’s Iris glaze, in which a base of white clay was decorated with slip glaze and then covered in a clear high gloss glaze allowing for a photorealist effect. Both glazes were generally utilized by Rookwood’s artists to depict naturalistic floral and botanical motifs.
This vase features impressed firm’s marks, date code for 1900, model number and incised artist’s signature on the underside.
Height: 3 ¾ inches (9.5 cm)
Diameter: 4 inches (10.2 cm)