Chinese rooster (one of a pair) 1727 - 1737

This porcelain rooster was crafted by the Meissen Manufactory. The rooster, a symbol deeply embedded in cultural consciousness, carries varied significations, from virility to vigilance. Notice how the rooster's comb and plumage are rendered with meticulous detail. This visual emphasis echoes the rooster's symbolic importance in Chinese culture, where it represents not only punctuality and reliability, but also courage and ambition. We see its earlier counterparts in ancient mythologies as emblems of solar deities, embodying themes of resurrection and rebirth. Consider how the rooster, crowing at dawn, embodies the transition from darkness to light. This resonates with our primal anxieties and hopes. The image of the rooster has been transformed and recontextualized, yet it has maintained its symbolic potency. These visual fragments are not just aesthetic choices, but powerful forces engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The rooster continues to resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings.