Animal Motifs in the Decorative Arts

Animal Motifs in the Decorative Arts

One constant in the decorative arts is the use of animals as decorative motifs. A blog space cannot summarize centuries worth of decorative arts, but animal motifs appear in all decorative art forms, from ceramics to furniture, across continents and different cultures. Animal motifs are painted, carved, sculpted, molded, applied and used as feet, supports, spouts, arms, handles; the list goes on. Certain motifs are used to denote political power, think the Napoleonic bee, the British Royal Lion, the Dragon in China. Sometimes the motifs allude to mythical powers or exoticism, status and more often than not, the animal motif is used simply because the maker wanted to add a decorative element. Learning about the decorative arts includes recognizing when certain motifs were popular and animal motifs are no different. Once you look for the animal motif in the decorative arts, you realize it is all around. Below are some examples and favorites.

      

Teapot and cover, ca. 1760-1825,England. Red ware with black glaze. Norfolk Museum Collection, Norfolk, U.K.

Washstand, attributed to Charles Percier (French, 1764-1838). France. Yew wood and gilt mounts. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Paw Foot (detail), Sofa, New York, ca. 1830, America. Lefferts Historic House, Brooklyn, New York.

Piano Stool, ca. 1825, New York. America. Lefferts Historic House, Brooklyn, New York