Cockerel 1735 - 1745

"Cockerel" is a pair of porcelain sculptures of roosters made in the Saint-Cloud factory in France between 1735 and 1745. The roosters are depicted in a lifelike manner, with detailed feathers and a natural posture. The white glaze of the porcelain adds to the realistic appearance of the birds. The pair of cockerels stand on a textured base reminiscent of a rock or a mound of dirt. This sculpture highlights the influence of Chinese porcelain on the French decorative arts in the 18th century. The white porcelain body is a unique characteristic of Saint-Cloud's work, and its use here lends a refined elegance to the roosters. This pair is currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.