Chinese Chrysanthemum Vase
Emile Gallé
Gallé, who grew up close to nature, had an immense love for flowers, birds, and insects. Influenced by Eastern art, his creations are imbued with Eastern philosophical thoughts. Gallé believed that life is a journey towards death, and nirvana is rebirth. Plants sprout because of seeds, and the blooming and withering of flowers carry the meaning of leaving seeds behind. He also used bees collecting nectar to represent the cycle of nature, black butterflies to symbolize death, and mayflies to symbolize the brevity of life... All filled with Eastern concepts of reincarnation. On the vase, Gallé depicts the cycle of a flower. From blooming to withering; within the decay, there seems to be a hidden glimmer of rebirth.
Artist
