Parrot on a ring perch

Cast from a mold and hand-painted in yellow, blue, green, manganese, and brown, this delftware parrot sits perched on a ring designed to be suspended from the loop at its top. Dutch animal figurines were popular interior ornaments in the Netherlands from the late seventeenth to the early eighteenth century. They were first modeled after Chinese porcelain figurines from the Kangxi period (1662–1722). Delftware parrots typically appeared in one of two poses: suspended on a ring, as seen in this example, or resting on a rock.[1] These figurines reflect a growing Dutch fascination with flora and fauna since the mid-seventeenth century, when the Dutch East India Company’s trade networks enabled the importation of live specimens from overseas in greater numbers.[2] Especially prized for their lively color and ability to mimic human speech, parrots were kept as exotic pets by affluent Dutch families. As live birds often did not survive long voyages from their native habitats, ceramic versions such as this one served as more affordable and enduring substitutes.

[1] Ella B. Schaap. “Parrot on a Ring” in Delft Ceramics at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Philadelphia, 2003, p. 60.
[2] Robert D. Aronson and Celine Ariaans. “Pair of Polychrome Models of Parrots” in Delftware: Collections, vol. 1: Exotic Delicacies, Flower Vases, and Menagerie. Amsterdam, 2021, p. 76.