Whilst a group of bachelors were hiking through the Cairngorms National Park in 2018 for their stag party, they ironically spotted a group of stags wandering the snow-spotted mountainside. Amongst the herd of brown-furred creatures stood a ghostly apparition, a white vestige radiating a peaceful presence. Little did they know that they had spotted one of the rarest sights in nature: a leucistic stag in the wild.
The matt white porcelain treatment of Lladró's new release, Deer Sculpture White-Copper, appears much like a leucistic stag.
The leucistic stag is often confused with an albino stag. Albinism involves a complete genetic lack of melanin. In contrast, leucism is a genetic mutation where there is a partial loss of pigmentation in the cells of an organism, which manifests differently in every case. The easiest way to tell them apart is through their eyes: albino creatures usually have red or pink eyes, whereas leucistic creatures tend to have dark eyes closer to their regular counterparts.
Saint Eustace meets a white stag (left).
Due to their rarity, the white stag maintains a mythical and legendary status and has deep historical symbolism, especially in Celtic, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Japanese cultures. The Celts believed that one would appear when a taboo was being transgressed, whereas Arthurian legends believe that it signals the time for the knights of the kingdom to pursue a quest. The white stag is also responsible for the conversion of several Saints, including martyr Saint Eustace and Saint Hubert.
Although the whiteness of a Leucistic Stag carries symbolism of peace, innocence and purity, it is also associated with the underworld. Killing a white stag is seen in many cultures to carry harsh punishments of terrible luck. Due to its rarity, big game hunters place a high price on its head as a prized trophy. When one is spotted in the wild, conservators monitor it and do not publicly release its location for fear of hunters.
Enduring Majesty
Lladró's new release, the Deer Sculpture White-Gold, pays homage to the king of the forest. To signify its nobility and assertiveness, the sculptors pay attention to recreating anatomical musculature and facial features. The piece is created in matt white porcelain which allows full appreciation of the fine details. The antlers are finished with a glossy metallic copper finish which gives the piece a striking contrast.
