Adelaar in aangeschoten toestand getemd en bereden door een kleine Bacchus 1750 - 1800

This roundel showing an eagle tamed by a small Bacchus was carved in wood by an anonymous artist. The natural material is transformed by a subtractive process of carving. Think of the skill needed to bring this roundel into being; how the wood was gradually removed to leave these forms in relief. Consider too, the tradition of woodworking from which this carver emerged, the use of chisels and gouges, of lathes to create the perfectly circular form. It would be interesting to know about the supply chain through which the wood made its way to the carver's bench. Was it locally sourced? Was the craftsman responding to the character of the material at hand? Or was it imported from far away, the carving therefore making a subtle gesture of global connection? Whatever the case, we are reminded that every object has a material history, and that by considering this, we can understand the full meaning of the artwork.