The Bird porcelain vase is a porcelain vase built around a small ceramic bird that appears mid-stride along the shoulder, so a stem placed inside gains a companion whether it wanted one or not. As a bird vase it lives in the awkward middle ground between figurative object and functional vessel, and as a bird shaped vase it belongs to the small category of things that solve a problem you never technically had. Someone in the design's life had a sister who loved birds since she was nine, with the total unexamined devotion some people reserve for religion, and eventually you stop fighting the people who love you and start letting them win in small ceramic ways. This piece went into production in 2004 and has stayed there. The porcelain gets its finish by hand at Chive Ceramics Studio, where the little bird catches a shadow that shifts depending on which window is doing the lighting.

PRODUCT DETAILS

• Vase Type:
• Material: Porcelain
• Glaze finish: Glazed
• Water Resistance: Watertight
• Year Designed: 2004
• 3.5 inches diameter
• 8.75 inches tall

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

Every ceramic vase in this collection is dishwasher safe on the top rack, making cleanup between arrangements as simple as loading it in with the rest of the dishes. The glazed surface holds up fine to regular washing, so there's no need to hand-wash unless you'd prefer to.

If you're cleaning a piece with painted or sculpted detail, a gentler cycle or a quick hand-wash with warm water and mild soap will help keep the finish looking sharp for longer. Either way, rinse and dry after each use — especially if flower food or cut-stem residue was in the water — so nothing lingers and clouds the glaze.

No special sealants, no periodic maintenance. Wash it, dry it, put flowers back in it.