X_8700
Walton Ford, Cigninota (detail)
Gagosian Gallery, New York
in twelfth century britain swans were hunted and eaten to the point of near extinction. these birds were seen as a delicacy not to be wasted on the likes of commoners. laws were enacted forbidding anyone to kill swans without direct permission from the crown.
"the privileged few who were allowed to breed and own swans were granted a "swan mark," the oldest of which dates to 1230."
Marks were cut into the swan's beaks with sharp knives. as the birds matured their black beaks would turn orange, and the markings - sometimes referred to as cigninota - would become even more pronounced.
X_8700
Walton Ford, Cigninota (detail)
Gagosian Gallery, New York
in twelfth century britain swans were hunted and eaten to the point of near extinction. these birds were seen as a delicacy not to be wasted on the likes of commoners. laws were enacted forbidding anyone to kill swans without direct permission from the crown.
"the privileged few who were allowed to breed and own swans were granted a "swan mark," the oldest of which dates to 1230."
Marks were cut into the swan's beaks with sharp knives. as the birds matured their black beaks would turn orange, and the markings - sometimes referred to as cigninota - would become even more pronounced.