Saucer from a tea service for twelve 1807 - 1808

This porcelain saucer from a tea service was crafted by Christophe-Ferdinand Caron. Notice the hoopoe bird at the center, a symbol rich with historical and cultural meaning. In ancient Egypt, the hoopoe was revered and associated with gods. The bird's crest and vibrant plumage made it a potent symbol of royalty and divinity, often depicted in tombs and religious iconography. Its appearance can also be traced through medieval bestiaries, where its dual nature is explored, symbolizing both virtue and vice, a mirror to humanity's own internal conflicts. These recurring motifs are not mere repetitions but palimpsests, each iteration layered with new cultural nuances yet resonating with the echoes of past meanings, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The presence of the hoopoe on this delicate saucer, therefore, is a subtle nod to a lineage of symbols, a cultural memory rekindled in a domestic object.