A Century Vase from the Union Porcelain Works Owned by the New Jersey State Museum

According to the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., "The American Industrial Revolution transformed the nation from a scattering of isolated communities into an economic and industrial giant, in part due to the country's wealth of natural resources. Forests, minerals, waterways and huge tracts of arable land for farming and ranching provided the raw materials that fueled growth and development, often at the expense of the environment.

The century vases made by Karl Muller at the Union Porcelain Works in Brooklyn, New York celebrate 100 years of American progress and depicts now-vanished icons of the American landscape, such as bison, a wooden reaper, and a steampship."

Furthermore, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan  owns a collection of these vases: "Nationalistic motifs embellish a pair of vases own by the MET designed by sculptor Karl Muller (1820-1887) in honor of America's 1876 Centennial. Native American plants decorate the body and North American bison heads serve as handles. A profile portrait of George Washington embellishes each side, and the six biscuit relief panels around the base depict scenes from American history - among them a minuteman with his cannon, William Penn signing a treaty with Native Americans, and the Boston Tea Party."

While traveling to Philadelphia last week, I visited the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton, New Jersey, where viewed a century vase owned by the museum. I am in awe of these objects every single time I see them, and I was actually surprised to learn that the New Jersey State Museum also owns an example.

According to the New Jersey State Museum, "In 1876, American's celebrated the country's 100th anniversary at the Centennial International Exposition (World's Fair) in Philadelphia. Ceramic companies produced spectacular works for the event, which featured examples of American decorative arts and architecture with Colonial revival flair. Karl Mueller, a Paris-trained German sculptor designed a number of pieces for the Union Porcelain Works' display booth."

Century Vase in the Collection of the New Jersey State Museum

19th Century Porcelain Century Vase in the Collection of the MET

Made at the Union Porcelain Works in Brooklyn, NY

Circa 1876

Stands 12 3/4" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: New Jersey State Museum

Information on Display with the Vase

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Photo Courtesy: New Jersey State Museum

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