•D2567. Polychrome Birdcage Plaque

Delft, circa 1760

Painted with a yellow bird with black-spotted feathers, perched on a wooden stick inside a yellow cage featuring iron-red wood patterns, a blue water cup suspended on the left, and the arched top with a hole for hanging.

DIMENSIONS
Height: 24.7 cm. (9.7 in.);
Length: 25.7 cm (10.1 in.)

NOTE
The prevalence of bird motifs in Delftware craftsmanship has been associated with the renowned aviaries housed in Queen Mary II’s palace. Among these, a notable piece stands out: a cage adorned with fabric, showcasing exceptional sophistication. Such depictions serve as a reminder of the Dutch painters’ mastery of illusion, honed since the late fifteenth century through meticulous attention to detail and advancements in perspective. As societal dynamics shifted, catering to the emerging bourgeoisie, paintings adapted, scaling down to accommodate domestic themes. Genre painting, reflecting everyday life, supplanted historical narratives. Furthermore, the Reformation’s disdain for religious imagery ushered in an era dominated by still life and landscapes. Within this artistic milieu, trompe l’oeil representations of birds in cages emerged, varying in degrees of refinement.

Available