You don't have to choose one or the other. Whether you decorate the vase with a single, dramatic flower such as a lily or a dragon flower, or it forms a stand-alone eye-catcher on your sideboard: Trude Petri's classic refers to the experimental design language of the 50s - and is therefore currently very trendy again. The artist designed it for KPM in 1957 and thus set standards (as with the design of the URBINO collection).

New Look meets flamenco

What Trude Petri could have achieved in this unique form can be seen when you take a look at the fashion at the time it was created . The strongly tailored shape of the MANTILLE takes up the hourglass silhouette of Christian Dior and subtly refers to the feminine ideal of beauty of the time. As if she were a dancer, the vase's sweeping lines create the impression of movement. Does this echo the flamenco-inspired evening wear of Cristóbal Balenciaga ? The name of the vase may give a clue, as in Spanish the “mantilla” is a veil or cloak that covers the head and shoulders. Trude Petri adapted this brilliantly for the vase: the relief made of velvety bisque porcelain looks like a carefully draped cloth, which forms an exciting contrast to the glazed surfaces of the expansive belly . Together they create a harmonious overall picture - and probably one of the most beautiful shapes the designer has ever created for KPM. How would you display this piece of art, er, vase?