Figure or candlestick representing Fall c. 1760 - 1770

This porcelain sculpture by Doccia captures 'Fall' with potent symbols. The figure, a man adorned with vine leaves, carries a vessel representing the harvest's abundance. At his side, a cherubic figure grasps at grapes, a symbol of fertility and the gifts of the earth. The imagery evokes Bacchus, the god of wine, whose festivals were associated with revelry, abundance, and a loosening of inhibitions. This motif of drunkeness can be traced back to ancient Greece, but it is not limited to the classical world. We can also compare it with the rituals of indigenous cultures of the Americas, or even with contemporary festivities such as Mardi Gras. Consider the psychological weight: seasonal harvest and decay reminds us of human mortality and the passage of time. This symbolic representation evokes a spectrum of emotions, from joy and abundance to melancholy, connecting us through collective memory to the cycles of life and nature.