Bottle

With its plant forms and organic lines, this bottle typifies the Art Nouveau style. The intense, ruby red glaze—invented by Vilmós Zsolnay—combines with gilding to produce a dazzling, iridescent effect.

Fine examples of Art Nouveau pottery such as this bottle were made at the Zsolnay ceramics factory in Pècs, Hungary. Founded in 1853 by Miklos Zsolnay to produce vases, tiles, plates, and architectural ornaments, the factory later expanded into art pottery in the Art Nouveau style under the direction of Zsolnay's son, Vilmós. In the 1890s, Vilmós invented eosin, the intense red glaze used here. The sinuous stems of the dark red flowers are formed by whiplash curves, a classic Art Nouveau motif.