Schelpvormige schaal, gedragen door een eend c. 1614 - 1654

Hendrik van der Borcht the Younger etched this shell-shaped bowl supported by a duck. The shell, since antiquity, has been linked to Venus, born from the sea’s foam. It is a symbol of love, fertility, and the soul's journey. This echoes in Botticelli's "Birth of Venus," where she arrives on a giant scallop, reborn and radiant. Here, it is presented as a man-made object, a vessel, rather than a natural phenomenon. It suggests a containing, protecting, or even concealing function. The duck, steadfast and ever-watchful, supporting the shell, might evoke vigilance and guardianship. This motif has roots stretching back to ancient Egyptian symbolism, where birds often represented the soul. Placed in this context, it suggests a vessel for spiritual or emotional content. Perhaps, as you gaze upon this bowl, consider how symbols speak to the collective unconscious, weaving narratives across time and cultures.