Plateau 19th century

This gilded "Plateau" by Elkington & Co. presents a teeming battle scene, frozen in shining metal. The equestrian combat, rendered with meticulous detail, evokes a timeless struggle for dominance. The horse, a symbol of power and virility, appears throughout history, from the steeds of ancient Greek heroes to the warhorses of the medieval era. Note the fallen figure in the foreground. It is a motif as old as art itself, recurring in battle scenes from the friezes of antiquity to Renaissance paintings. Consider its psychological weight: defeat, vulnerability, the ephemerality of life. The emotional impact is potent: it is a visceral reminder of human conflict, touching on primal fears and aggressions that persist across cultures and epochs. The image resonates beyond its immediate context, echoing in our collective memory. It is a continuous thread in the tapestry of human experience. Thus, the symbol cycles onward, reappearing in different guises, always a testament to our enduring fascination with conflict.