Art-Inspired Jewelry
Guided by the famous philosophy “art for art’s sake,” the Aesthetic movement enriched late 19th-century British and American design with fabulous wares that promoted beauty as an artistic, social, and moral force—particularly in the domestic realm. Instrumental in bringing Aestheticism to the United States was the visionary potter John Bennett (American, b. England, 1840–1907), whose sumptuous earthenware vase (1882) in The Met collection informs our spring-perfect Dogwood Blossom Jewelry.
The pink cast-glass blooms defining these designs evoke the sprigs of dogwood reaching across the Museum’s vase, a magnificent, mustard-yellow vessel painted with pink-and-white blossoms.
Much of Bennett’s work bears similarly bold florals as part of a highly decorative mode that he cultivated as the head of the Lambeth Faience division at Doulton Pottery in England. In 1877, Bennett immigrated to the United States, where he established his own workshops in New York City.
On view in the American Wing are a number of Bennett’s creations, which exemplify his signature style while showcasing the diversity of his influences—from a Japanese-inspired charger (1877) to a vase (1878) with an Islamic-style motif.
His lush patterns of stylized flowers and fruits bear notable similarities to those of his contemporaries, such as William Morris (British, 1834–1896) and Daniel Cottier (British, 1838–1891), who likewise transformed everyday items—from windows to wallpapers—into sumptuous visual delights.
