Bullfinch (one of a pair) 1744 - 1755

This is one of a pair of porcelain bullfinches, made around 1750 by the Vincennes Manufactory. The figure of the bird is perched on a faux tree stump, a symbol that roots the scene in a pastoral vision of nature. Birds have long captured the human imagination, their image laden with symbolic weight. Think of the dove, a symbol of peace, or the eagle, a representation of power and freedom. The bullfinch itself, with its distinctive colorings, may have been chosen to evoke particular associations. Across cultures, birds are often seen as messengers or intermediaries between the earthly and spiritual realms. Consider ancient Egyptian beliefs where birds embodied the souls of the deceased, or in various mythologies, where birds carry messages from the gods. Perhaps this porcelain bullfinch was intended to convey a sense of lightness and joy, or perhaps something more profound lies beneath its delicate exterior.