Heron
ca. 1750
These figures, recorded at the Bow factory as herons, are actually depictions of the mythical phoenix. Emblematically, these two birds were intertwined in many cultures. According to Herodotus and Plutarch, the phoenix, which originated in Ethiopia, was burned on an altar, then rose again from its own ashes. An ancient emblem of rebirth and immortality, the phoenix symbolized Christ’s resurrection in the early church and throughout the Middle Ages in Europe. This pair of lively porcelain phoenixes arose victorious from the fire of the Bow manufactory kilns. As the only known pair, they are extremely rare.
Soft paste porcelain
6 3/4 in. (17.2 cm), height
4 7/16 in. (11.2 cm), depth
6 1/16 in. (15.4 cm), length
Gift of Martha and Henry Isaacson
69.396.1
Provenance: Formerly in the collection of the Hon. Graham Charles Kinnaird (Note: Isaacson file: List of donated items (A.A.40 & 41), December 28, 1969); collection of Mr and Mrs Henry and Martha Isaacson, unknown purchase date until December 1969; gift from Mr and Mrs Henry and Martha Isaacson to Seattle Art Museum, Washington, 1969
Photo: Paul Macapia
