Cake bowl (part of a service) 1753 - 1774

This cake bowl was created by the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory in the mid-18th century. Its dark blue surface is adorned with gilded imagery of birds and foliage. Dominating the scene is the peacock, a symbol rich with associations. Across cultures, the peacock has been revered—a potent emblem of beauty, pride, and even immortality. In ancient Greece, it was linked to Hera, queen of the gods, its eyes symbolizing omniscience. Yet, the peacock is also tied to vanity, a cautionary figure in Aesop's fables. This duality, this tension between splendor and hubris, persists through time. Consider how the peacock appears in Renaissance paintings, often positioned to evoke both divine beauty and earthly vanity. These shifting meanings, layered over centuries, engage our collective memory. Here, on this delicate cake bowl, the peacock invites contemplation on the complex interplay of these archetypes, echoing through our cultural consciousness.