In the years after World War II, Western makers approached their designs with a spirit of optimism and dynamism. The mid-century modern style was a result of that energy, incorporating organic, clean lines into industrial design. This ‘Gladiolus’ vase, made by the Minnesota stoneware factory Red Wing Potteries, is a fine example of the mid-century modern pottery being produced in America. The vase, produced between 1955 and 1960, encapsulates mid-century modern design: a sinuous form with subtle references to nature, the sculptural presence of a decorative object, and, of course, a Zephyr pink glaze.