More About… Animalia (Part 1)
The Animalia series is based on my interest in the depiction of animals in ancient decorative arts from around the world - namely, ceramics and jewellery.
I was interested in how certain aesthetic values were conveyed through animals, and their apparent universality to human tastes - these decorative choices appealed to the ancients just in the same way as they do to people today. I was first inspired by seeing the Roman tortoise aryballos and Minoan bird earrings in-person, in their respective museums, and I then found the Moche sea lion pup and Egyptian cat amulet by trawling online museum archives while looking for more pieces to complement the ones I already had.
In (part 1!) of this series, I chose to depict:
Moche Sea Lion Pup
[Image available via Cleveland Museum of Art]
This vessel balances both form and function as it incorporates a utilitarian spout and handle without sacrificing its faithful representation of a sea lion pup. I love how stylised yet accurate this sea lion is, and in the original piece the slipware makes the surface look so beautifully smooth. I was interested in preserving the rounded shapes and simple silhouette of this piece in my own print.
Roman Tortoise Aryballos
Similarly to the Moche sea lion vessel, this Roman tortoise aryballos is also beautiful yet functional. I saw this in the beautiful Naples Archaeological Museum and was captivated by it. There is incredible attention to detail on the surface, for example, on the tortoise’s face, feet and of course shell. I tried to replicate these intricate details in my own piece, as well as convey the materiality of the piece as a usable vessel.
Egyptian Cat Amulet
[Image available via Fitzwilliam Museum]
Even though this cat amulet is such a simple piece, it is so clearly meant to be a cat by its striking and bold shape. The crystal quartz also lends the piece a simplicity which further serves the impact of its form. The smooth surface and chunky build of the cat suited my art style perfectly.
Minoan Bird Earrings
I saw these in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum (which is truly fabulous, by the way), and I am also aware that this style of bird/dove was a very common design in ancient Greek/Hellenistic jewellery and particularly earrings (here are just a few examples!). In this pair of earrings I particularly loved the attention to detail on the metalwork and tried to convey that in my print.
Animalia Part 2?
As for Part 2 in the series, I already have some ideas planned. I intend to continue exploring the same themes of aesthetic and functionality conveyed through ancient decorative representations of animals; through different animals and different cultures, but strikingly similar techniques (ceramic slipware, gold filigree…), new images emerge.