 |
| Enamel pigeons, c. 1760-70 (6.3cm high). Sold at Bonham's in 2011. Originally from the Mort & Moira Lesser collection. |
Box 1
These amorous pigeons provide another example of the variety of animal bonbonnières (sweet boxes) produced in enamel in eighteenth-century Birmingham and Bilston. The two pigeons have interlocking beaks, one painted purple, and the other brown, and may have been given as a token of love or affection. Doves are more usually the bird of love as doves pulled Venus's chariot so became associated with her, the goddess of love. The difference between pigeons and doves, though, is linguistic and aesthetic rather than scientific, and some doves look similar to certain pigeons.*
 |
| Venus, by Carlo Lasinio (after Raphael) c. 1780s. Wellcome Collection. |
The lid of the box (below) shows a bird perched on a bunch of grapes, with pears and other fruit nearby. The lid has a simple mount with a hinge opening.
Box 2
A very fine, proud pigeon was sold for £4000 at Bonham's in 2011. He sits on tufts of painted grass with his chest puffed up and beady orange eyes. The damaged lid of the box (second image) is out of place, depicting a parrot rather than a pigeon, pecking at a selection of fruit. This lid was transfer printed, meaning that hundreds of images could be made with one print, and was then overpainted. The exact same lid is found repeatedly on parrot bonbonnières, which shows how the enamellers would create new designs for the animals to fit the shape and size of lids already in use which would help them more readily serve the whims of fashion.
 |
| Lid of the pair of pigeons, above. |
Box 2
A very fine, proud pigeon was sold for £4000 at Bonham's in 2011. He sits on tufts of painted grass with his chest puffed up and beady orange eyes. The damaged lid of the box (second image) is out of place, depicting a parrot rather than a pigeon, pecking at a selection of fruit. This lid was transfer printed, meaning that hundreds of images could be made with one print, and was then overpainted. The exact same lid is found repeatedly on parrot bonbonnières, which shows how the enamellers would create new designs for the animals to fit the shape and size of lids already in use which would help them more readily serve the whims of fashion.
 |
| Enamel pigeon , c. 1765. Sold at Bonhams in 2011. |
As well as sometimes representing love, pigeon fancying was a popular pastime during this period with multiple fancy breeds.
Box 3
A simpler pigeon bonbonnière is held at Wolverhampton Museum, and depicts a single bird with its head turned back. The lid (below) is hinge-mounted to the box, and painted with a bird perched on a branch. This is very similar to other designs of a variety of British birds which may represent some of the earliest examples of these boxes.
A simpler pigeon bonbonnière is held at Wolverhampton Museum, and depicts a single bird with its head turned back. The lid (below) is hinge-mounted to the box, and painted with a bird perched on a branch. This is very similar to other designs of a variety of British birds which may represent some of the earliest examples of these boxes.
 |
Enamel pigeon bonbonnière, c. 1760-80, held at. BI647 Wolverhampton Museum and Art Gallery, BI647. BI647 |
 |
| Lid of pigeon bonbonnière, above. |
Notes
* RSPB Website: here.
- Daniel Girton, The New and Complete Pigeon Fancyer (Alex Hogg, 1785).
- A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons (London: C. Barry, 1765).