Ephraim Dragon Vases
Have you noticed that Ephraim loves to create a dynamic dragon vase from time to time? The age-old combination, dragons and vases, goes back centuries. These imaginary winged serpents are presented as ferocious, sometimes fire-breathing, across cultures. Eastern folklore brings us a benevolent protector and good luck while Western culture conjures a menacing harbinger of doom and destruction, the adversary of many a heroic Medieval knight.
There is a rich history of dragon motifs featured on antique ceramic vases the world over, marked here (L-R) by the David Vases, created circa 1351 in Jingdezhen, China for the alter of a Daoist temple; this Amphora Porcelain Works dragon vase from early 1900s’ Bohemia; and Japanese ceramic artist Kataro Shermandoni’s dragon vase, created during the turn of the twentieth century when he worked for Rookwood Pottery in Cincinnati, OH.
Ephraim’s latest dragon vase, Guarding Grueby, is a playful narrative featuring a hand-sculpted dragon, formidable to some and a hero to us, wrapped around a Grueby-revival vase. This dragon is charged with guarding the revered and historic leaf-and-bud design, interpreted here a century after its inception as part of Ephraim’s limited edition 2019 Summer Collection.
Why are we inspired to incorporate these fantastical creatures in our artwork? Today, from the Harry Potter fantasy novels in our children’s libraries to Game of Thrones on our late night screens, dragons continue to tug at our collective imagination. The possibilities are endless. They are make believe, after all.
