Provenance:
- Private Collection, Paris, France 2023
Condition Report Available
€ 22,500
This object can be viewed in our gallery.
An enamel on biscuit figure of a cockerel, decorated all over in bright Egg & Spinach enamels. The cockerel, with its large feathery tail, stands upright and looks slightly to the left. The contours of feathers on the body, wings and tail are incised into the porcelain body. The prominent wattles are left uncoloured and the comb is unglazed biscuit. It stands on a brown enamelled pierced rockery base, which is left unglazed on the bottom.
The cockerel or rooster (Gong-Ji 公鸡), is the tenth animal of the Chinese zodiac. It is a common motif in the Chinese decorative arts and associated with a wide range of symbolic meanings. Five virtues are traditionally ascribed to the rooster: its comb symbolizes literacy and refinement, while its spurs represent martial bravery. It is respected for its courage and for its benevolence, as it calls the hens to share his food. The rooster is also seen as a model of reliability and faithfulness, as he never fails to mark the passing hours.
Two domestic fowl in Egg & Spinach enamels are in the Copeland Collection in the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, as well as two pairs of famille rose roosters.
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