The Century Vase
Decorative Arts and Design

The Century Vase
Artwork Details
Artist/Maker
Karl L. Müller (American, born German, 1820-1887), designer
Union Porcelain Works, Greenpoint, New York, 1863-1922, maker
Union Porcelain Works, Greenpoint, New York, 1863-1922, maker
Date
1876
Medium
Porcelain with paint and gilt decoration
Accession #
1986.163
Dimensions
22 1/2 x 12 x 12 inches
Location
On View - Stent Family Wing, Level 3, Gallery 304
Description
Designed and modeled by Karl L. H. Müller, the Century Vase is one of only two made for display at the Centennial Exhibition commemorating the nation’s one hundredth birthday. The vase’s eclectic decoration includes bison-head handles and a profile of George Washington—a powerful patriotic symbol for many Americans. This monumental piece evokes nostalgia for the past, pride in industrial progress, and optimism for the future.
Union Porcelain Works, the maker of this vase, was the first American firm to successfully apply underglaze polychrome decoration on true, hard-paste porcelain.