Ewer 1883 - 1893

This Ewer was crafted by Pauline Pottery, its surface adorned with stylized magnolias and a serpentine handle. The magnolia, a symbol of dignity and nobility, appears here as a motif, echoing its use in ancient Chinese art, where it represented purity and feminine sweetness. Now, consider the handle, a serpentine form: a dragon, perhaps, reduced to mere decoration. Yet, the dragon, a primordial symbol of chaos and power, here is tamed, domesticated into an ornamental feature. It reminds me of the Ouroboros, the snake eating its tail, embodying the eternal return. The serpentine form, though subdued, retains a primal energy, a whisper of the subconscious. These forms, charged with cultural memory, engage us on a deeper level, stirring emotions tied to our collective past. Note how these symbols, these motifs, appear and reappear across cultures and ages, their meanings transformed, yet their power undiminished.