A vase with a silver exterior and silver gilded interior that flares at the top and bottom with a small circular relief design appearing as if it were hammered with a small tool similar to a repoussé-like texture. The vase has an undulating top edge that creates a gentle lip where the gilded interior is exposed. The body is detailed with low relief leaves and flowers with center gemstones elegantly connected with vines that surround the vase. An isolated three dimensional bee encrusted with two gemstones walks on the interior lip while a gilded bee with two jewels explores the body of the vase. Toward the bottom of the vase are four bands of different textures; a narrow unadorned shiny silver band, a wider hammered band, an unreflective equally wide band with a continuous curling vine and a thinner hammered band with a shiny angular unadorned base.

See more objects with the tag silver, bees, vase, gilded, jeweled.

Object Timeline

1997	Work on this object began.
2001	Work on this object ended.
2015	We acquired this object. We photographed this object.
2017	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Vase Vase, Designed ca 1997; Executed, 2000-2001

This is a vase. It was designed by Michael Izrael Galmer. It is dated Designed ca 1997; Executed, 2000-2001 and we acquired it in 2015. Its medium is silver, gold, amber, garnet, blue paua abalone shell. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

Galmer combines traditional skills and a depp understanding of materials and modern production. Trained in engineering in the USSR, he took up silversmithing in the US. After carefully observing nature and materials, he creates concept drawings, and chooses one to provide and expand with details. He then makes molds and models to further develop his ideas. When this cast-silver vase came out of the final mold, Galmer gilded and finished it with applied bees set with amber, garnet, and shell, providing color and dynamism.

This object was donated by Michael Izrael Galmer. It is credited Gift of Michael Izrael Galmer.

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Our curators have highlighted 5 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

A detailed presentation drawing of Tall Bee Vase with an embellished exterior on the body and a golden colored interior revealed at the opening that elegantly flares outward with undulating curves and a gentle lip. The contour line tapers into a medium sized neck that tapers downward and gently outward toward a wider body then tapers inward at the base. The surface of the vase's lightly reflective surface represents a small circular relief design appearing as if it is hammered with a small tool similar to a repoussé-like texture. The surface is detailed with low relief leaves and flowers elegantly connected with vines that meander and surround the vase. An isolated three dimensionally drawn bee encrusted with two gemstones lands on the interior lip while a golden colored bee with two colors appearing like gemstones explores the body of the vase. Toward the bottom of the vase are four bands of different textures; a narrow unadorned shiny silver band, a wider hammered band, an equally wide band with a continuous curling vine and a hammered band with a shiny angular base.

Drawing, Design for Tall Bee Vase, 1997
graphite, brush and acrylic wash with metallic dust on white paper.
Gift of Michael Izrael Galmer.
2015-38-10

A drawing of six contour line sketches rendered in graphite of possible body forms for the design of Tall Bee Vase. The top three sketches show three different body types, “#1” is written on the lower right of the sketch showing a proportionate opening, neck and round body with base. “#2” is written on the lower right of the second sketch showing a negative space for the top with side neck lines that are uneven, a narrower neck than the first sketch and a lower roundness to the body with a low waterline observable. An angled base is drawn. For the third sketch, imagine an outline of you holding both of your arms toward the left at shoulder height and your left knee is slightly bent. Then add two vertical lines with space away from the bottom perhaps as the base. The fourth sketch is placed under the first and is the most detailed and resolved design of the options. This shape is the body that was chosen for the making of the Vase.The top has undulating waves across the top then gently curves down as the width decreases in the neck then widens for the body with a drawn base with erasures present. Curving scribbles representing details are drawn on the bottom half of the body. Underneath the rendering is the designer’s large italic signature. The fifth sketch shows a solid dimension line with arrows for top and bottom of the height of the vase labelled “11” on the outer left side of a rough sketch of the vase showing the opening with curves decreasing in neck size and increasing in body size with erasures. The sixth and final sketch shows a flat line with two curves in another line horizontally drawn as the top of the vase slightly narrows for the wide neck that ends abruptly. A negative space exists then a band having two horizontal lines are rendered then more negative space then another band with curling lines then another negative space and a short horizontal line representing the base. A fragmented line is drawn in the center of the shape from the baseline up past the flat top line.

Drawing, Designs for Tall Bee Vase, 1997
graphite on white paper.
Gift of Michael Izrael Galmer.
2015-38-8

A productions drawing of three views of the Tall Bee Vase with the same contour line design with decorative meandering elements of flowers, vines and bees drawn on the surface of the vases and within the negative space in between them. Slight shading occupies the surface of the vase excluding a narrow unadorned band on the lower body. Shading continues on a wider band beneath, then a white band displays an original looping design on the three vases and the negative space connecting vases in between. Light shading continues on the balance of the lower surface and base.

Drawing, Design for Tall Bee Vase, 1997
graphite on white paper.
Gift of Michael Izrael Galmer.
2015-38-9

Its dimensions are

H x diam.: 27.2 × 18.4 cm (10 11/16 × 7 1/4 in.)

It has the following markings

Underside of base, machine pressed maker’s marks within an oval reserve [1] “GALMER” [2] “NEW YORK” [3] “925 STERLING SILVER”

Cite this object as

Vase Vase, Designed ca 1997; Executed, 2000-2001; Designed by Michael Izrael Galmer (American, b. Soviet Union, 1947); silver, gold, amber, garnet, blue paua abalone shell; H x diam.: 27.2 × 18.4 cm (10 11/16 × 7 1/4 in.); Gift of Michael Izrael Galmer; 2015-38-1

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

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/d3zqV/
Accession Number 2015-38-1
Object ID 136300633