Polychrome Dutch Delftware chicken tureen and cover

This tureen, in the form of a chicken, is mostly decorative in character, as an ornament on the dining table. The object is notable for its brilliant coloring and high gloss glaze.

The fashion for tureens shaped like animals, fruits, and vegetables arose around the middle of the 18th century. They were especially beloved in France, where the Strasbourg factory specialized in such pieces, which were generally larger than the examples produced in Delft.