Kakiemon plate with beast c. 1740

This exquisite plate was delicately crafted in Japan, presenting a captivating array of mythical and natural motifs. Here, the vibrant depictions of birds and beasts evoke a sense of wonder, their symbolic resonance echoing through the corridors of time. Observe, in particular, the fantastic creature. This chimera, a composite of various animal forms, recalls similar beings found in ancient mythologies. We see echoes of the griffin in ancient Greece and the Lamassu of Assyria. These hybrid creatures, often guardians or symbols of power, tap into a primal human fascination with the blending of the familiar and the extraordinary. The image is not static. Its enduring power lies in its capacity to trigger the collective unconscious, reminding us of the symbolic language through which we have always sought to understand the world. Each element, from the humblest insect to the most fantastic beast, carries a weight of cultural memory, an echo of stories told and retold across the ages.