The decoration on this vase is all about illusion. Taking something three-dimensional, like a flowering plant, and compressing that not only into a two-dimensional drawing, but also then imprinting it on a curved surface, and still having it look ‘real’ to the viewer, is true a feat of draughtsmanship.

John Bennet’s style is clearly informed by the English tradition at the time – the designs of William Morris come to mind. The rim is also something of an illusion – just paint and glaze, combined to create something close to a semiprecious stone.

You can see this vase today in Gallery 743 at the Met.

With thanks to the Met for use of the image.