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Parrot
Dutch (Delft)
about 1735–45
Object Place: Europe, The Netherlands
Medium/Technique
Tin-glazed earthenware with polychrome decoration
Dimensions
17.9 x 10.4 cm (7 1/16 x 4 1/8 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Rita and Frits Markus
Accession Number1985.75
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsCeramics – Pottery – Earthenware
DescriptionLike no. 6, the parrot stands upright, astride an open, teardrop-shaped stand, which is attached to the tip of the bird's tail and both legs. The smooth sided stand is gently sloped, roughly echoing the angle of the underside of the parrot's body. The stand and bird were molded as one piece and separated by cutting the clay, leaving an opening between the bird's body and the edge of the stand. Both sides of the upper edge of the stand between the bird's legs and the end of its tail are decoratively scalloped, and the front portion of the stand has been left plain. The bird faces straight ahead, its right side slightly lower than the left because of an indentation in the base under its right leg. The lower edges of the wings protrude slightly from the body. Painted in a famille verte palette, the parrot has a green body (produced by applying a thin wash of yellow over blue), with feathers suggested by small clusters of blue marks over the entire body. The talons are the same green as the body. The bill is blue; the upper and lower mandibles are edged in red at the mouth, which is painted white to appear open. Two small circular holes just above the upper mandible indicate the nostrils. The eyes are encircled by a tuft of yellow and red feathers. The leathers on the crown, wings, and breast are yellow with a red herring-bone pattern, each edged in blue, as are the wings.
Each side of the stand is divided into three zones of ornament. At the front is an oval reserve with a small bouquet of red and yellow flowers, green foliage, and bluegrass against a white ground, outlined with double lines of blue. On either side of this is a large reserve with a green foliate scroll against a red ground with blue-veined leaves and yellow and white scrolls. Adjoining this is a band of iron-red latticework against a white ground, bordered on the far side by a smaller green foliate scroll against a red ground. The back of the stand under the tail has been left white. The upper and lower edges of the stand are edged in blue. The figure is hollow, and the interior glazed.
Each side of the stand is divided into three zones of ornament. At the front is an oval reserve with a small bouquet of red and yellow flowers, green foliage, and bluegrass against a white ground, outlined with double lines of blue. On either side of this is a large reserve with a green foliate scroll against a red ground with blue-veined leaves and yellow and white scrolls. Adjoining this is a band of iron-red latticework against a white ground, bordered on the far side by a smaller green foliate scroll against a red ground. The back of the stand under the tail has been left white. The upper and lower edges of the stand are edged in blue. The figure is hollow, and the interior glazed.