-Chevaux Marin- (seahorse) chenet c. 1745 - 1750

These 'Chevaux Marin' chenets, of unknown authorship, present gilded horses emerging from stylized waves. This coupling of horse and sea evokes powerful currents in the collective psyche. Throughout history, the horse has symbolized virility, strength, and untamed nature. Think of the steeds of Poseidon, the god of the sea, driving his chariot through crashing waves. These creatures embody raw, elemental power. Now, observe how the Baroque dynamism is rendered: the horses rear with spirited energy, their forms entwined with acanthus scrolls. This elaborate ornamentation speaks to the human desire to control nature, to harness its energy for domestic purpose. Yet, the primal force of the horse persists. Such images tap into a deep, atavistic stratum of our minds. They remind us that even within the most refined, gilded object, there is a persistent echo of wild, untamed energy—a vital force that continues to resurface in unexpected forms, shifting and evolving, much like the waves themselves.