Pelican in Her Piety Figure Group

This figural group depicting a pelican plucking her breast to feed her young is a metaphor for Christ’s sacrificial blood being shed on the cross, as well as a symbol of piety. The biblical image was part of the iconographic Germanic tradition brought to America by Pennsylvania German immigrants and was extremely popular. The motif was frequently employed on other ceramic objects, as well as metal wares, and fraktur. Decorative redware figural groups are rare, requiring great skill on the part of the potter in his ability to control and manipulate clays and glazes. The significance of the inscription is unknown but suggests a commemorative presentation.