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Object Timeline

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2014

  • Work on this object began.

2016

2017

2024

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Turgid Dong Accretion Vase

This is a vase. It was designed by The Haas Brothers, Nikolai Haas and Simon Haas. It is dated 2014 and we acquired it in 2016. Its medium is hand-thrown ceramic with porcelain slip, angelyne glaze and gold, sheet brass (base). It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

For designers Niki and Simon Haas, known as The Haas Brothers, the Accretion series (2013-ongoing) began as an exploration into the process of natural growth. The duo was inspired by the building mechanisms and petal-like texture of coral and tree fungus, and sought to develop a method to recreate such intricate texture in an object. After a number of material experiments, they discovered clay was the most suitable for their purpose.

To create each Accretion piece, clay is hand-thrown into a unique vessel, with forms suggestive of body parts and organic elements. Once the form is dried, wet clay is painstakingly brushed onto dry clay, layer by layer. Slowly, the vessel’s surface imperfections, which begin as specks of texture, grow into fragile porcelain petals. The result is a furry texture that the brothers call “a record of time and growth” specific to each piece.

The pink glaze of the vase (2014) sought for acquisition by Cooper Hewitt is characteristic of the pastel color palette often favored by the Haas Brothers. The vase’s gold neck places it in a family of Accretion vessels from 2014 that feature the same color and metallic pairings. In keeping with the Haas Brothers practice to give outlandish, vivid names to their objects, the piece is named the Turgid Dong Accretion vase.

This object was donated by The Haas Brothers and R & Company. It is credited Gift of the Haas Brothers and R & Company.

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Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 40.5 × 22 × 21 cm (15 15/16 × 8 11/16 × 8 1/4 in.)

Cite this object as

Turgid Dong Accretion Vase; Designed by The Haas Brothers, Nikolai Haas (American, b. 1984), Simon Haas (American, b. 1984); hand-thrown ceramic with porcelain slip, angelyne glaze and gold, sheet brass (base); H x W x D: 40.5 × 22 × 21 cm (15 15/16 × 8 11/16 × 8 1/4 in.); Gift of the Haas Brothers and R & Company; 2016-25-1

We have 1 video that features Turgid Dong Accretion Vase.

Haas Bros. Accretion Vase Production Process

The Haas Brothers discuss the process for achieving the intricate texture from their Accretion series.

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Making | Breaking: New Arrivals.

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<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/907130463/ |title=Turgid Dong Accretion Vase |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=25 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>