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.

See more objects with the tag nature, insects, metalwork, vase, concept drawing.

Object Timeline

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

Drawing, Design for Tall Bee Vase, 1997

This is a Drawing. It was designed by Michael Izrael Galmer. It is dated 1997 and we acquired it in 2015. Its medium is graphite, brush and acrylic wash with metallic dust on white paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

This drawing is part of a group by silversmith Michael Galmer tracks the development of his Tall Bee Vase design from concept to final presentation. Early sketches in his process illustrate initial experiments with form and size. Once a basic form was selected, later drawings show detailed decoration schemes and a final presentation that conveys the vase’s form, texture, color, and ornament.

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

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.

Vase Vase, Designed ca 1997; Executed, 2000-2001
silver, gold, amber, garnet, blue paua abalone shell.
Gift of Michael Izrael Galmer.
2015-38-1

A drawing of six contour line sketches rendered in graphite of full or partial designs of Tall Bee Vase. The first sketch contains the most detailed design elements representing the vase with a flared, undulating top edge that contains a gentle lip, curving lines suggesting parts of flowers, leaves and vines with two dark circular features. Toward the bottom of the rendering are two narrow bands that extend across the width with an angled narrow base. The second rendering displays a slightly different design for the top edge, though having the undulating top, the rendering shows two curved lines drawn representing the neck of the vase. There is a space and three narrow bands drawn. The third sketch shows the top edge of the vase as a short horizontal straight line, a space, then two short lines representing the sides of the vase with a space and a wider, rounder bottom with a narrow angled base. A fragmented arrow begins under the top line and extends vertically to the base with an arrow facing downward with “11”” hand written in the center of the fragmented line. The fourth sketch is positioned under the first sketch displaying two different views on the vase. The top shape is an equilateral triangle in an aerial(plan) view with the top line extending past the line on the right. The vase begins in a front (elevation) view showing both side lines tapering outward to meet a large circle in an aerial (plan) view. The fifth sketch located under the second sketch consists of a design with different proportions than the fourth sketch. A circle drawn displaying a back elevation view, both side contour lines are drawn showing the wider bottom of the design with arrows horizontally placed outside the drawing labelled “13”” on the left side of the body. Below is a rendering of a smaller circle with a horizontal line outside the shape labelled “4,5”” in between dimension lines with arrows inside the circle. The sixth and final sketch shows a circular shape with another circle drawn with a fragmented line inside and near the circumference of the outer circle. The designer's signature is toward the bottom of the sketch underneath the sixth sketch.

Drawing, Designs for Tall Bee Vase, 1997
graphite on white paper.
Gift of Michael Izrael Galmer.
2015-38-7

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

Our curators have highlighted 4 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

Drawing, Design for an Ewer
pen and ink, brush and wash on paper.
Museum purchase through gift of various donors.
1901-39-191

Teapot (USA)
silver, ivory.
Gift of John V. Rowan, Jr. in memory of Winifred D. Shrubsole (Mrs. Eric N.....
1991-63-1

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 W: 34.9 × 28.1 cm (13 3/4 × 11 1/16 in.)

It is signed

Signed in graphite, lower right: MiGalmer

Cite this object as

Drawing, Design for Tall Bee Vase, 1997; Designed by Michael Izrael Galmer (American, b. Soviet Union, 1947); graphite, brush and acrylic wash with metallic dust on white paper; H x W: 34.9 × 28.1 cm (13 3/4 × 11 1/16 in.); Gift of Michael Izrael Galmer; 2015-38-10

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

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/d3zre/
Accession Number 2015-38-10
Object ID 136300651