It was a wedding gift from a dear friend who departed this earth too soon. In the jumble of gifts and the giddiness of the time, it still managed to stand apart as a favorite, never relegated to the attic or basement, rising above to take pride of place in our entryway, where it has remained for a decade. Alissa gave us this Michael Aram vase, and it has been holding flowers and memories ever since. With her passing, it has come to mean a little more, and where once I may have taken it for granted – a vase is a vase is a vase – I now see it as a reflection and a reminder of a friend’s exquisite consideration and taste. So much so that I’ve been looking into expanding our collection of Michael Aram art.
Mr. Aram incorporates nature, mythology, craftsmanship and a fine appreciation of beauty and elegance into all his designs. Through the use of texture, design, a masterful melding of function and form, and just enough whimsy to set itself apart from very other vase in our home, his work stands uniquely above everything else we display. The vase that Alissa chose for us is part of his Black Orchid collection, whose buds and blossoms and stems wind themselves fancifully around their objects, whether it be a vase or a serving utensil or a candlestick. I’ve become particularly enamored of the Black Orchid objects – picture frames and nut bowls and a glorious pair of candlesticks. The idea of procuring an item for each room of our house is a tantalizing one – a thread of beauty running throughout our home feels especially lovely when our home-base is being used more than ever.
In addition to the Black orchid line, Aram has also pursued motifs of cherry blossoms, pomegranates, ginkgo leaves, and dogwood trees – all of which I love, and whose expression finds whimsical grace in otherwise-everyday items. He manages to turn even a tissue box cover or a toothbrush holder into a work of art, expertly proving that even the most mundane object can become something artistic and aesthetically pleasing when executed with the proper panache. It took a good friend to turn me onto a new artist, bringing beauty into our home and making the world a little more lovely. We need all the loveliness we can find right now.
