Antique Terracotta Dove - Poterie de Bavent 9"

This charming ceramic dove, crafted by the renowned Bavent atelier, features a life-like pose with beautifully detailed wings, tail feather, and feet. The bird is finished with a soft white glaze, accented by a warm orange beak and earthy brown feet, which show signs of age. Its expressive face, highlighted with delicate blue eyes, adds character and appeal to the piece.

In French culture, doves symbolize peace, purity, and love. Often associated with harmony and serenity, they are prominently featured in religious and secular contexts alike. The white dove, in particular, represents the Holy Spirit in Christian tradition and has become a universal emblem of peace, especially after being popularized by Picasso's "La Colombe" after World War II. Doves also appear in French literature and art as symbols of fidelity and devotion, often linked to romantic love and tranquil domestic life.

Bavent pottery, located in Normandy, is celebrated for its faience and rooftop decorations, often producing naturalistic animals like this dove to adorn rooftops and gardens. This dove, likely designed as a decorative rooftop finial, captures the workshop's characteristic attention to detail and craftsmanship. With its gentle vintage patina and realistic proportions, this Bavent dove would make an excellent addition to a collection of French ceramics, or a playful decorative accent in a room or in the garden.