Owl 1735 - 1745

This porcelain owl was crafted by the Meissen Manufactory, those skilled artisans from Germany. The dominant symbol here is the owl itself, a creature laden with complex meanings across cultures and eras. In ancient Greece, the owl was associated with Athena, goddess of wisdom, its presence signifying knowledge and strategic insight. Yet, venture beyond, and we encounter the owl cloaked in different guises. In some traditions, it is seen as a harbinger of doom, a nocturnal spirit connected to the realm of the dead. This duality is fascinating, isn't it? The owl’s piercing gaze, rendered here in delicate porcelain, evokes a primal sense of alertness and vigilance, perhaps tapping into our collective anxieties surrounding the unknown. The image is a non-linear progression, where the owl continues to resurface, evolving to take on new meanings.