Vuurbok van verguld brons met op rechthoekig basement hondenkoppen, rozetten, druivenranken en een jachttafereel; een zwijn en geschoten wild met een jachthoorn. c. 1772 - 1775

This gilded bronze fire dog, created by Quentin-Claude Pitoin, is adorned with symbols of nature, hunting, and domestication. The hound atop evokes loyalty and vigilance, its posture a call to primal instincts, while the hunting scene and festoons of fruit speak to man's dominion over nature. The dog motif, here a symbol of loyalty, can be traced back to ancient Egypt and Greece. Depictions of dogs alongside deities or heroes underscored themes of faithfulness and protection, archetypes deeply embedded in our collective memory. This symbol echoes through time, appearing in various forms—from the Cerberus guarding the gates of the Underworld to the faithful companions in Renaissance portraits. Consider how the dog's primal role as hunter and protector has evolved, mirroring our own shifting relationship with nature. This complex layering of meaning illustrates the perpetual, non-linear evolution of symbols across cultures.