Fox

Description

Foxes in Celtic mythology are usually quick, cunning, and sneaky, filling much the same position as coyote does in Native myth. In Irish folklore other-wolrdly animals are always white.

As red haired animals they were sometimes considered lucky and sometimes unlucky (as were red-haired people). In France, (until forbidden by law in the reign of Louis XIV) baskets containing living foxes were burned on the bonfires on St. John's Day to ward off bad luck.

In Asia, the fox represented sexual seductiveness. Japanese legends tell of fox spirits called kitsune that can turn themselves into people and have the powers of deceitful witches. In yet another example of the dualistic nature of animals, however, Japanese mythology also portrays the fox as the messenger of Inari, the god of rice.

The ancient Romans regarded foxes as fire demons, perhaps because of their reddish coats, and in Christian mythology, the fox is associated with the devil.

This technique is called 'grisaille' which means 'gray' as it is always a monochrome technique, though sometimes it is done on other dark colours than black. It is a painted enamel technique that was developed in the 14th c. Several coats of a semi transparent enamel which is suspended in oil and applied like a paint are layered. Each layer is separately fired - there are 5 layers of paint and two ground coats, meaning usually about 9 firings per piece (including the counterenamel on the back).

PIece is 1 1/2" wide

This piece is done on a dark blue ground and strung with lapis lazuli and pearl. It is in stock and can ship out to you in 3-5 days!

Added on Dec 13, 2009