The Hidden
Symbolic Meaning of Everyday Household Objects in Western Painting
A knife in a loaf of bread, a glowing
candle, a dirty window, a Childs toy on a shelf, a clock, an
hourglass—all are enchantingly decorative to the average onlooker. For
painters of the
Gothic,
Early Renaissance
and High
Renaissance periods, everyday household items were part of a powerful visual
language.
In a culture of
limited literacy
symbolic imagery was
vital in enlightening
the masses. Byzantine, Gothic and
Early Renaissance
paintings are rich in
philosophical and
Christian symbolism
regarding common
household objects.
Whisk broom- symbolizes
marital faith.
Mirror - signifies vanity or an
introspective nature.
A knife in a loaf of
bread- symbolizes
holy communion.
The glowing candle
- a symbolic reminder of
Christ's Passion.
A Childs toy -
symbolizes the freedom
and innocence of early
life.
Glass prayer beads
symbolic of the
all-seeing wisdom of
God.
Coins on top of a
Bible -
symbolizes the triumph
of the material world
over the pious and holy.
A
red pillow-
symbolizes
hedonism and
depravity of the soul.
A clock with missing
hands - signifies
mans powerlessness to
control his own fate.
A lemon next to a
salt shaker-
symbolizes a doer of
wicked deeds.
Hourglass -
symbolizes the
inevitable passing of
time and the certainty
of death.
Nails/Nails -
The Crucifixion of
Christ
An overturned
copper tea kettle -
symbolizes loss of
faith.
A rabbit on a white
or silver platter-
implies fertility.
A club -
symbolizes martyrdom,
Saint Jude, one of the
apostles, was beaten to
death with a club.
A fluttering blue of
white curtain-
symbolizes a heavenly
world in which the
splendor of the holy and
divine is only beginning
to be shown.
An unsheathed knife
near a money purse or
pile of coins-
denotes a rebellious and
materialistic viewpoint.
A burned out candle - symbolizes a lack of
devoutness and piety.
A white or blue pitcher
and basin - is
a symbol of Purity,
signifying clean
thoughts and an
uncorrupted essence.
The pitcher and basin
are also symbolic of
forgiveness of sins,
cleansing,
sanctification, unity
with God, eternal life,
glory, theosis.
A dirty window-
suggests physical malady
(usually a venereal
disease or leprosy); a
polluted body.
A spilled or
overturned inkwell-
symbolizes broken
promises,
broken political
treatise,
missed chances.
If the spilled inkwell
is on the desk of a
Saint then this
symbolizes martyrdom;
divine sufferers who
spilled their blood in
Gods name.
Lute - a musical
instrument symbolic of
romantic love.