Beaker c. 1815 - 1820

This glass beaker was made by Anton Kothgasser, and it presents a scene titled "The Bengal Tigress Lecturing in the Morning to the Little Royal Tiger". At its heart, we find the enduring symbol of the tiger, laden with complex meanings across cultures and history. In Eastern traditions, the tiger is often a symbol of power, courage, and protection. The image of the tigress, calmly teaching her cub, evokes a sense of maternal guidance, and her steady gaze conveys a powerful presence. Yet, this familiar scene reminds us of similar motifs across time: consider the lioness as an emblem of strength and protection found in ancient Egyptian art, or the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus in Roman mythology. These symbols echo across millennia. Each image, each rendering of the maternal beast, taps into our collective memory, speaking to the primal instincts of care and survival. Over time, the tiger’s symbolism has evolved, adapted, and resurfaced, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level.