Tureen c. 1783 - 1805

This porcelain tureen was created by Gotha between 1757 and 1900. Note the presence of fowl adorning the base. Chickens, symbols of domesticity and the pastoral, have an ancient lineage. We see them in Roman mosaics, and even earlier, in Etruscan bronzes. Yet, the chicken is not merely an emblem of bucolic life; it also embodies vigilance and renewal, linked to its role as a harbinger of the dawn. Consider the lemon atop the tureen's lid. The lemon, initially a symbol of luxury and exotic lands during the Renaissance, gradually transformed into a signifier of freshness, health, and vitality. This transformation is not linear but cyclical, reflecting our evolving relationship with nature and its bounty. These symbols, deeply rooted in the collective psyche, tap into primal associations, reminding us of our connection to the earth and the rhythms of life.