...For Lovers of Quimper and other French Faience
Year of the Snake
The snake (蛇) is the sixth of the twelve-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.
Photo Left: “Le Paradis Terreste” by Pouplard & Beatrix of Malicorne, 19th century. Adam & Eve with the snake curled around the tree. (Photo courtesy Sandra Bondhus.)
Photo Right: Quimper Immaculate Virgin, HB first mark, circa: 1883 or earlier. (Photo courtesy Lucy Williams.)
In Chinese symbology, snakes are regarded as intelligent, with a tendency to lack scruples. Also, a Snake Year is sometimes referred to as a Little Dragon Year to assuage possible feelings of inadequacy among people born during a Snake Year!
The Year of the Snake is associated with the Earthly Branch symbol 巳. Besides its use in the cycle of years, the zodiacal snake is otherwise used to also represent hours of the day. Snakes have a long and complicated place in Chinese mythology and culture. The hour of the snake is 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., the time when the sun warms up the Earth, and snakes are said to slither out of their holes.
Photo Right: Quimper Snake plates. Mark is HB (only). 1880’s or earlier). Photo courtesy of the Dallas Auction Gallery.
