Project Description
Rookwood Pottery, a prominent American ceramics company, began in Cincinnati, OH in 1880. It was the first female-owned manufacturing company in America. The owner of Rookwood, Maria Longworth encouraged her team of artists to explore new techniques and be creative. This vase features the “Iris” glaze. In the late 1890s, Rookwood Pottery introduced three new glazes: Aerial Blue, Sea Green, and Iris—all of which became emblematic of Rookwood. The Iris glaze is a colorless glaze, which allows the design to be vibrant and precise. This vase has a floral design, a common theme in Daly’s ceramic work. A narcissus flower is the prominent design, taking up the entirety of the vase. The white flowers stand out against the dull, greyed background drawing your attention to its detail. This vase came to Berea College by gift of Mrs. W.A. Julian, an alumna and avid supporter of the arts.
-Charla Hamilton, Class of 2015