Hibiscus Vase

1889

John Bennett American, 1840 - 1907

On View

American, Level 2, West Wing

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About the Artwork

John Bennett created the luminous surface of his Hibiscus Vase with two layers of glazing. Using thin, vivid colors for his under layer, Bennett painted full-blown blossoms in free and energetic strokes. He then covered it all with a clear, glossy glaze. Once fired, this underglaze technique produced the illusion of depth, making it appear as if the mass of exuberant blooms floated over the dark blue ground. Combining natural forms and refined craftsmanship, Bennett’s work embodies the ideals of the Aesthetic Movement, a British theory of domestic design that defined the home as an oasis of beauty, filled with objects remarkable for their high quality and rare artistry. Born in Britain, Bennett moved to the United States in 1877 after a successful showing of his work at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. The Hibiscus Vase represents Bennett at his best, rendering the beauty of nature with consummate expertise.
From Bulletin of the Detroit Institute of Arts 89 (2015)

Title Hibiscus Vase

Artwork Date 1889

Artist John Bennett

Life Dates 1840 - 1907

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. American

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. ----------

Medium Earthenware

Dimensions Overall: 12 1/4 × 11 inches (31.1 × 27.9 cm)

Classification Ceramics

Department American Art before 1950

Credit Museum Purchase, Beatrice Rogers Fund and Lucy Waterman American Art Fund

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 2005.41

Markings

Signed Signed: J B[monogram]ENNETT. | 1889. | AP(superscript "L") 30 W.C.(superscript "L") NY

Marks On the underside of vase, written in ink on a paper label: FADG 19453D

Provenance

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Provenance is a record of an object's ownership. We are continually researching and updating this information to show a more accurate record and to ensure that this object was ethically and legally obtained.

For more information on provenance, please visit:

Provenance page

Exhibition History

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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

We welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

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Published References

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We regularly update our object record as new research and findings emerge, and we welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

John Bennett, Hibiscus Vase, 1889, earthenware. Detroit Institute of Arts, Museum Purchase, Beatrice Rogers Fund and Lucy Waterman American Art Fund, 2005.41.