Cow and hungry pig

Country: Spain

Manufactory: Lladro

Date of establishment: 1970

Sculptor: Vicente Martínez

Size (cm): 26*41

Porcelain Story

I have already drawn attention more than once to how visitors to major museums in different countries react in a strikingly similar way to certain aspects of porcelain expositions. Moreover, this can be observed in Germany, and in Spain, and in England, and in France, and in Italy, and in Japan or New Zealand. In short, almost everywhere. Quickly passing stands with incredibly expensive and valuable dishes, visitors linger noticeably longer in front of the figurines, already more carefully examining the details of the products (after all, in dishes, as a rule, there are not so many molded rather than painted details). And then they stop for a long time in front of porcelain compositions in which the sculptor conveys some plot, scene, fragment of an action that can catch people's attention with the paradoxical nature of the situation or convey the internal tension of the moment of showdown, manifestation of vivid emotions, reflection of unbearable pain or undisguised passion.

That is why I really love Spanish porcelain, moreover, the Valencian masters of Spanish porcelain, because of the ability to create plot compositions, considering which the viewer involuntarily becomes, as it were, a participant or witness of a scene, the result of which cannot but arouse simple human interest. Of course, there were a lot of porcelain works using this move (by the way, of course, more complex in conception and execution) in the products of many other manufactories - Danish, Chinese, Ukrainian, German, Russian, Japanese. But it was the Lladro sculptors who most often managed to convey, in my opinion, the most vivid and expressive manifestations of the characters of the heroes of their works, which so win-win causes a lively and genuine interest among lovers and true connoisseurs of porcelain art.

Now a few words about this figurine, which I found during a trip to Montreal, Canada. It was a long time ago. And I wasn’t engaged in collecting porcelain then. And I bought this nice funny composition just because the laughable plot conveyed in it did not allow me to pass by the window of the crockery, by the way, store.

And now, so to speak, for a snack, a short parable. One neighbor comes to another and asks:

- Listen, how is it that everyone around you is considered a kind and accommodating person, and me, no matter what I do, tight-fisted and conflicted?

And he answers him:

- You know, almost the same story happened between a pig and a cow. The pig was always surprised that people treat a cow with such awe and love. No, well, it's understandable, of course, she reasoned aloud that you, a cow, give them milk and butter. But after all, they get much more from me - hams, sausages, chops, finally, even stubble. Not to mention the legs, from which an excellent jelly is obtained...

The cow looked at the loudly indignant pig with her kind and wise eyes and quietly asked:

- Or maybe it happens because I give them all this while still alive?..