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Photo: Susan Dirk
Allegorical figure of America
Photo: Susan Dirk

Allegorical figure of America

Date1752-54
Label TextIn the figure of America, the Indian’s tranquility, as she peacefully offers up her arrows while a caiman (a member of the alligator family found in Central and South America) curls about her feet, may be read as an allegory of innocence and unity with nature. In the Age of Enlightenment, Europeans viewed America as the perfect symbol of untouched wilderness.
Object number81.8
Photo CreditPhoto: Susan Dirk
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Porcelain Stories: From China to Europe", February 17, 2000-May 7, 2000 (2/17/2000 - 5/7/2000)Published References"Selected Works." Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 1991, pp. 96-97 Emerson, Julie, Jennifer Chen, & Mimi Gardner Gates, "Porcelain Stories, From China to Europe". Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 2000, p. 233
Credit LineGift of Martha and Henry Isaacson
Dimensions10 x 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (25.4 x 13.97 x 8.9 cm)
MediumHard paste porcelain
Plate
French, Strasbourg
ca. 1780
Object number: 76.139
The Bird Nesters
French
ca. 1770
Object number: 76.135
Small jar with cover
French
1784-1786
Object number: 76.136
Photo: Paul Macapia
French, Paris, Boissette
ca. 1775-85
Object number: 64.117
Large plate
French, Niderviller
ca. 1793-1800
Object number: 95.106
Bowl
French, Niderviller
ca. 1774
Object number: 95.109
Platter
French, Niderviller
ca. 1780-90
Object number: 95.110
Platter
French, Niderviller
ca. 1780-90
Object number: 95.111
Wine glass cooler (seau crénelé)
French, Paris, rue de Clignancourt
ca. 1780-90
Object number: 95.118
French, Niderviller
1780-85
Object number: 2005.13
Photo: Paul Macapia
French, Mennecy
ca. 1750-60
Object number: 98.33
Photo: Paul Macapia
French, Saint-Cloud
ca. 1740
Object number: 87.142.26