Art and Antiques by Dr. Lori
Animals in Art & Antiques Dr. Lori
Lithograph print with girl and her cat
19th-century painting with rabbits Dragonfly lamp by Louis Comfort Tiffany
have appraised many antique and vintage objects in the form of animals—from cow creamers to Kermit the Frog dolls. While objects are collectible for many reasons, when it comes to animals in art and antiques, it is interesting to note what an animal form symbolizes and why a particular animal was highlighted in a certain period of art history. We love the animals that share our lives, and in art and antiques, these beloved creatures reference important life lessons. When found in a work of art (painting, sculpture, print) or an antique object (figurine, decorative carving, fetish), the appearance of animals has special meaning.
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October 2013
50plus SeniorNews •
Bee – Industry and community. Famous wealthy families of the Renaissance and Baroque periods oftentimes commissioned artists to include bees in paintings of their family coat of arms to suggest their public interest in serving the community. Bear – Gentle strength and nurturing. In Native American totem poles, bears are oftentimes carved to suggest the strength of nature and the nurturing characteristics of forest animals. Bull – Wealth. Associated with the financial world today, images of bulls please see ANIMALS page 4
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