Dish 1785 - 1799

This tin-glazed earthenware dish was crafted at the Alcora Manufactory in Spain. Note the whimsical birds encircled in blue, interspersed with floral motifs and curious swirling tendrils. Birds have long served as potent symbols, representing the soul's journey or freedom, appearing in ancient Egyptian art and Renaissance paintings. Think of the dove, a symbol of peace, or the eagle, an emblem of power. These avian figures echo in the collective unconscious, resurfacing across cultures. The Alcora dish, with its stylized birds, invites a dance of cultural memory, resonating with the archetypal longing for liberation and transcendence. How these symbols are reinterpreted reveals our deepest desires and fears, perpetually revisited and reshaped.