Dodo van Jahangir

Carving in clay or porcelain is my latest passion.
The first time I did this was in Jingdezhen, China in 2010.
See picture below: the 'Smoking skulls vase'.
Recently I carved the 'Dodo van Jahangir' (Jahangir's Dodo) box below and now I am carving vases made by ceramic artist and potter Tineke van Gils.

The 'Dodo van Jahangir' was inspired by the story of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir who had a living Dodo in his personal menagerie. A painting of Jahangir's Dodo was made by Ustad Mansur in the early 17th century.


Ustad Mansur was the first artist to paint both the Siberian Crane and possibly the Dodo. A Dodo was brought to Jahangir's court via Portuguese controlled Goa and a painting of it is found in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and although unsigned has been thought to be the work of Mansur or a contemporary.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ustad_Mansur

 Nur-ud-din Mohammad Salim, known by his imperial name Jahangir,(30 August 1569-28 October 1627) was the fourth Mughal Emperor who ruled from 1605 until his death in 1627.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehangir