I adore blue and white, whether I find it on ceramics, textiles or any kind of artwork. I was stopped in my tracks when I recently came upon this amazing contemporary "tulipiere" on the top floor of the LVM building at the Chazen Museum here in Madison.
I've purchased blue and white flower bricks and other vases in those colors but can only dream about owning such a big dramatic container as this one. It was at least 3' tall. If you are not familiar with them, "tulipieres" or tulip-holders are fancy containers typically made of hand-crafted pottery, classically Delftware. They are designed to hold a single flower per spout with water held in the large central area.
I can picture it dripping with tulips. Maybe Willemsoord or Prinses Irene or Rococo or my favorite, Schoonoord, all stunning options available from Old House Gardens.
Mark and I were at the museum for a noontime retirement party and afterwards he said I should see this new exhibition. This piece is "Tulip Vase" by Ann Agee, an American artist born in 1959. The porcelain vase was made in 1994 and was lent to the museum by Stephen and Pamela Hootkin. This piece along with a number of other stunning works on display are on loan from the same collectors. I hope it is a sign that they will eventually donate them to the museum.
To see what other gardeners have put in a vase today, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden who hosts this weekly meme.
That is wonderful! (But what is the woman in the photographs panels eating?)
Posted by: Cindy at enclos*ure | Monday, January 30, 2017 at 07:01 AM
Cindy — I think she is eating a plum or something like it.
Posted by: Linda from Each Little World | Monday, January 30, 2017 at 07:58 AM
A stunning piece by itself but it would, indeed look fabulous adorned with tulips.
Posted by: Peter/Outlaw | Monday, January 30, 2017 at 08:18 AM
This huge blue and white vase is a doozy. It certainly can stand on it's own. What color of tulips would you put in it? You would have to have quite a few, 36 if I counted right. Then another question is what is that person eating? Tulips you think? I sometimes think a flower is pretty enough to eat. What does that make me?? haha we won't go there. ;)
Posted by: Lisa at Greenbow | Monday, January 30, 2017 at 08:59 AM
Lisa — I think she might be eating a plum or maybe an apple. Looks like something round with a tight skin. I was thinking white or orange tulips and probably double or peony flowered so they would be big and dramatic flowerhead. People resorted to eating tulip bulbs in the Netherlands during the last winter of the Second World War http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/63/a8158863.shtml
Posted by: Linda from Each Little World | Monday, January 30, 2017 at 09:16 AM
That is the most bizarre vase I've ever seen - but I bet it is absolutely stunning when full of tulips. After a tour in The Hague I have a huge fondness for tulip bouquets. They just make you happy.
Posted by: Nomads By Nature | Monday, January 30, 2017 at 09:36 AM
Well, might she actually be eating a tulip bulb? This is an amazing piece of pottery - thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Barbara H. | Monday, January 30, 2017 at 10:05 AM
Wow, Barbara! Had not even thought of that.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Monday, January 30, 2017 at 10:14 AM
What an amazing article - and what a take on a traditional tulipiere or flower brick. Not sure it would be practcal though, because of the curve of the openings - but I don't suppose it was designed to be used! Thanks so much for sharing it
Posted by: Cathy | Monday, January 30, 2017 at 10:26 AM
Wow. Now that's a statement piece.
Posted by: Loree / danger garden | Monday, January 30, 2017 at 10:38 AM
That's an incredible piece, Linda. I commented on your march post too but I'm not sure it went through - kudos to you and your family!
Posted by: Kris P | Monday, January 30, 2017 at 12:50 PM
Who needs flowers with a vase like that!! I think this is amazing, but not exactly beautiful. The image on the front is certainly unusual!
Posted by: Cathy | Monday, January 30, 2017 at 03:51 PM
Wow, that is a stunning and novel piece of functional art. So glad you shared it!
Posted by: Eliza Waters | Monday, January 30, 2017 at 05:27 PM
The original tulip vases from the time of Tulipmania (when a single bulb might cost as much as a house) were designed to hold a different variety of tulip in each hole. If you had 36 tulips you would be very rich indeed! The modern interpretation is very striking.
Posted by: Christina | Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 01:25 AM
Christina — Thanks for giving us more to think about. I am always surprised at how much I initially think of things as they are now rather than how they might have been in the past.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 07:40 AM