Flagon or tankard 19th century

This impressive flagon was crafted by Elkington & Co. in the 19th century. Its surface is adorned with a symphony of motifs, each a relic of cultural memory. Note the cherubic faces with their wings, ancient symbols of divine presence and intermediaries between the heavens and earth, their origins stretching back to Mesopotamia. Further down, we see the masks of what appear to be fauns or satyrs, spirits of the forest, embodying the untamed aspects of nature. Such symbols remind us of how the past is continually re-imagined. The cherub, once a powerful divine messenger, has softened over time, often reduced to a mere decorative element. Similarly, fauns evolve from fearsome deities into playful figures, echoing the human desire to tame and domesticate the wild. This flagon, therefore, is not just an object but an emotional vessel, carrying within it the echoes of ages.