Description
Our Harvey vase is a fish standing upright on a small foot, made from 100% stoneware and finished in a speckled brown glaze. The open mouth forms the neck of the vase, and the body is worked in raised scales, with an eye, a curved gill line and a tail that curls round into an open loop through the side. It stands 23.5cm tall, 15.5cm long and 8.5cm wide, a compact size that suits a small bunch or a few single stems rather than a large armful. It weighs 0.66KG.
At only 8.5cm wide, it fits on a narrow shelf, a windowsill or the end of a mantelpiece where a wider vase would crowd the space. It works on a coffee table in a living room, on a kitchen shelf or on a hallway sideboard, and it brings a coastal or seaside scheme a touch of humour without shouting. Dried stems suit it well: the raised mouth lets a few sprays of seed heads or grasses arch out as if the fish were nibbling at them. It also makes a cheerful gift for anyone who loves the sea, from a keen angler to a friend with a house by the coast.
Stoneware is fired hard and dense, which gives the piece its solid feel. The glaze breaks into paler flecks over the raised scales and settles darker in the hollows. The maker notes that, due to the nature of the glaze, colour variations may occur, so your vase may read a little lighter or a little deeper brown than another. We think that small variation is part of its appeal. For styling, keep the stems loose and simple so the scales and the curled tail stay in view, and set it beside plain, pale pottery so the brown glaze has room to glow.
Specification
| Width |
8.5cm |
| Length |
15.5cm |
| Height |
23.5cm |
| Material |
100% Stoneware |
| Colour |
Brown |
| Finish |
Due to nature of the glaze colour variations may occur |
| Weight |
0.66KG |
Frequently Asked
How big is the vase?
It stands 23.5cm tall, 15.5cm long and 8.5cm wide, and weighs 0.66KG, a compact size for a shelf, windowsill or small table.
What is the vase's material?
It is made from 100% stoneware, a dense ceramic fired hard, and finished in a speckled brown glaze over the raised scales.
Will my vase match the photographs exactly?
Very closely, though not always exactly. The maker notes that, due to the nature of the glaze, colour variations may occur, so tone and speckle can differ slightly between pieces.
What is the opening through the side of the vase?
It is formed by the fish's tail curling round to meet its body. It is part of the sculpted shape and lets light through the middle of the piece.
Which stems suit a vase this size?
At 23.5cm tall, it suits a few dried stems, seed heads or grasses, or a small posy, rather than a large bunch of long flowers.