Meissen Porcelain Manufactory (established Meissen, Germany, 1710)
Seagull Figurine, 19th century
Painted and glazed hard-paste porcelain, 27 cm (10 5/8 in.)
Glazed painted porcelain figurine of a seagull partially seated within a thick cluster of yellowish-tipped green reeds. One of the reeds extends up behind the seagull and curves towards its body. The seagull has a yellow bill with black shading at the base, alert pink-rimmed dark eyes, a bright white head, neck and belly, gray wings with black tips, and reddish legs with black toes. There is a sprinkling of small dark dots along its neck and a patch of brown imperfections at the lower center of its belly. Its wings are tucked and the head is turned halfway back towards its shoulder. With one leg raised, it stands on a small mound painted with brown feathery markings against a white background.
Little Salon
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.