Hen with chicks (one of a pair) 1745 - 1765

This Whieldon-type ceramic figure of a hen with chicks presents a striking interplay of form and materiality. Its composition, dominated by the bird’s horizontal posture, creates a sense of grounded stability. The mottled green and dark blue glaze, applied with apparent spontaneity, invites us to consider the artist's process. The glaze becomes more than mere decoration; it is integral to the sculpture's structure and creates a semiotic interplay between surface and form. We observe how the artist has used color and texture to animate the figure, disrupting the fixity of representation. The hen is stylized rather than naturalistic. The Whieldon-type hen challenges conventional ceramic art by foregrounding material and process, prompting us to rethink established notions of beauty and representation. Ultimately, this ceramic piece exists as a site of ongoing interpretation.