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Zsolnay "Bird and Tulip" Glazed Ceramic Ewer
About the Item
This resplendent Zsolnay bird ewer—resting on three feet and crowned with a blooming tulip handle—is a triumph of Art Nouveau design, created by Sándor Apáti-Abt for the Zsolnay manufactory. Its form draws inspiration from Bronze Age Hungarian askoi, zoomorphic vessels historically used in shamanistic rituals. Excavated from cemeteries across Hungary in the 19th century, these ancient artifacts captivated local artists and scholars alike. Some surviving askoi, now housed in Budapest museums, depict human–bird hybrids and were found to contain traces of blood or psychoactive substances. It is believed that shamans consumed these liquids during ceremonies to undergo spiritual transformation—temporarily assuming the identity of birds, aided by avian spirit guides. By the Late Bronze Age, askoi often took the shape of waterfowl—creatures able to traverse land, water, and air—reflecting their symbolic resonance with multiple cosmological realms.
This concept of metamorphosis strongly resonated with Art Nouveau’s fascination with the natural world and the fantastical, where hybrid forms—fusing flora and fauna—embodied mythological and spiritual transcendence. At the same time, Zsolnay was incorporating ideas from contemporary esoteric movements such as Theosophy, Anthroposophy, and Zoroastrianism. These belief systems merged ancient religious traditions with modern philosophies, encouraging a return to the spiritual imagination of the past.
Item #: C-21960
Artist: Zsolnay
Country: Hungary
Circa: 1899
Materials: Eosin glazed earthenware
Exhibition History: in the Zsolnay Museum in Pécs, Hungary. (Part of the Gyugyi Collection)
Macklowe Gallery Curator's Notes:
Founded in 1853 by Miklós Zsolnay, the Zsolnay manufactory flourished in the city of Pécs, which became the center of Hungary’s ceramic innovation. Under the leadership of his son Vilmos Zsolnay from 1865, the firm gained international acclaim through participation in world fairs and exhibitions. Vilmos also spearheaded technical experimentation by bringing in chemists Vince Wartha and Lajos Petrick, who developed the eosin glazing process in 1893. This complex technique, which involves the use of metallic oxides in a lead-based glaze, creates a shimmering, iridescent surface that shifts in color with changing light. The name "eosin" is derived from Eos, the Greek goddess of dawn—a nod to the pinkish hue of the earliest successful glazes. Over time, a full spectrum of colors was developed, including the glowing green-gold seen on this ewer. The piece dazzles with a kaleidoscope of hues, its surface alive with the fluid poetry of botanical curves—an embodiment of Zsolnay’s mastery of both mythic imagination and material innovation.
- Creator:Zsolnay (Workshop/Studio)
- Dimensions:Height: 10 in (25.4 cm)Width: 10 in (25.4 cm)Depth: 6 in (15.24 cm)
- Style:Art Nouveau (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1899
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU885445448182
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