Siervaas met hertenkop 1751 - 1798

This is an undated drawing of a ‘Siervaas met hertenkop,’ or ornamental vase with a deer’s head, by an anonymous artist. The piece reflects the opulence and symbolic language prevalent in European decorative arts. The vase is adorned with motifs that evoke themes of nature, power, and perhaps, aristocratic identity. The deer head and eagle perched atop the vase, along with vegetal patterns, tap into historical associations of nobility, the hunt, and dominion over the natural world. One can imagine this vase as an emblem of status, designed to communicate the owner's refined tastes and elevated social standing. Consider how objects such as this were both aesthetic statements and embodiments of cultural values, reflecting the complex interplay of identity, status, and the natural world. It invites us to reflect on the messages embedded in the art of the past, and to question whose stories are told through its imagery.