Cockerel 1735 - 1745

These cockerels were made at the Saint-Cloud factory in France, during a period of significant social and economic change. These porcelain figures, likely intended as decorative objects for an aristocratic household, reflect the complex interplay between nature, artifice, and social status in the 18th century. The choice of a cockerel is interesting. In many cultures, the cockerel is a symbol of virility, pride, and vigilance. Yet, rendered in delicate porcelain, these figures become more about aesthetic appreciation than any inherent masculine quality. The Saint-Cloud factory, like many porcelain manufacturers of the time, was deeply embedded in a network of patronage and power. It was a world where artistic creation was intertwined with the desires and demands of the wealthy elite. The cockerel, therefore, exists as a symbol of luxury and refinement. It invites us to consider the emotional distance between the pastoral ideal it evokes and the realities of courtly life.