Bear figurine

This bear figurine has a suprisingly bloody history. In 18th century Europe, bear baiting was a popular past time, and bears were common sights in public, as well as objects of popular fascination. A whole range of bear themed wares was produced, everything from jugs, to vases, to plates, to statues. Bears were big business, and the suffering of the animals was entirely unconsidered. This item was produced in Nottinghamshire, at the time the centre of English pottery. By coincidence, both bear baiting and English potting declined at the same time; in the 19th century the cruelty of bear baiting was finally accepted, and the practice banned. Meanwhile, domestic taste moved from English made goods to cheaper, more exotic items from continental Europe.这款熊形摆件背后藏着一段令人意外的血腥往事。18世纪的欧洲，熊斗兽活动（bear baiting）是颇受欢迎的娱乐消遣，熊类不仅是街头随处可见的身影，更是广受大众关注的对象。当时衍生出了一系列以熊为主题的工艺制品，涵盖陶罐、花瓶、餐盘乃至雕像。熊主题产业营收可观，却全然无视动物所遭受的苦痛。 该摆件产自彼时英国制陶业的核心地带——诺丁汉郡。无独有偶，熊斗兽活动与英国制陶业几乎同步走向衰落：19世纪，熊斗兽的残酷本质终被世人正视，该活动被明令禁止。与此同时，国内消费审美也从英国本土制品，转向了欧洲大陆更为廉价且更具异域风情的商品。