Oval platter with lobster 1870 - 1880

This vibrant oval platter, fashioned from earthenware by Thomas-Victor Sergent, presents us with a puzzle of symbols. At its heart lies a large lobster, surrounded by fish, ferns, leaves, flowers, and a snake. The lobster, a creature of the sea, is a delicacy of the table, loaded with meaning. Its presence speaks to abundance, prosperity, and the bounty of nature. Yet, consider the snake, a motif slithering through various cultures as a symbol of healing but also of deceit and transformation. We find this duality echoed in ancient Greek depictions of the Caduceus. The emotional impact of the piece arises from this tension: the promise of nature’s generosity overshadowed by the undercurrent of lurking danger. The scene evokes a sense of subconscious unease. Like so many symbols, the meaning of the lobster and snake are not linear; they circle through history, transformed and re-imagined, leaving us to grapple with their complex legacy.