Flycatcher 1745 - 1755

This is a porcelain Flycatcher figurine, crafted at the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory in the mid-18th century. Perched on a faux tree stump, the bird embodies a fascination with the natural world that swept through Europe at the time. Birds in art have long symbolized the soul, freedom, and the divine. Think of ancient Egyptian art, where birds often represented souls in transit, or Renaissance paintings where doves embody the Holy Spirit. Here, the flycatcher, with its vibrant plumage, perhaps speaks to a longing for the idyllic, a retreat from industrializing London. Yet, this image resonates beyond mere symbolism. The very act of capturing a wild creature in porcelain mirrors humanity's perennial desire to contain and understand nature. It’s a desire echoed through centuries, from ancient bestiaries to modern-day taxidermy. The impulse remains, a testament to our complex relationship with the natural world.