Silver-Spangled Polish, from the Prize and Game Chickens series (N20) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1891

This late 19th-century lithograph, made by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette packs, presents us with a ‘Silver-Spangled Polish’ rooster, a breed known for its extravagant crest. This crest, a cascade of feathers atop the bird’s head, is not merely a biological trait, but a symbol laden with cultural echoes. Consider the headdresses of ancient priests and rulers, or even the elaborate hairstyles depicted in Renaissance portraits. The crested rooster, in this context, becomes a modern echo of these historic emblems of status and authority. The rooster itself has a complicated legacy. Historically a symbol of vigilance and virility, it also carries associations with boastfulness and pride. The artist has tapped into the potent symbolic power of the rooster, reminding us that even in the most mundane of images, ancient archetypes persist, continuously reshaping our understanding of the world around us.