Edgar Miller Legacy

In 1939, Edgar Miller decorated an unassuming, unglazed ceramic plate to commemorate the bravery of the Polish people in the face of their invasion by the N***s in the fall of that year. Miller was moved by the reported (albeit apocryphal) accounts of Polish soldiers, despite their inferior technology, standing up against the German’s panzer tanks. 

The image of a cockerel (a young rooster) is a traditional symbol in Polish mythology, representing a guard and protector, and personifying vigilance, resurrection, and bravery. Miller, who was a keen student of history and follower of current events, saw the oncoming Second World War as the inevitable outcome of years of brewing hatred and fascism in Europe and worldwide, and he lamented the war to come. 

In this context, Miller’s simple yet energetic brushstrokes, applied to a humble dish, is one of the artist’s most powerful pieces, symbolizing courage and defiance in the face of injustice and harm. 

Swipe to see details and a small “M” symbol maker’s mark under the cockerel's wing. Learn more about Miller’s many ceramic pieces and more through the Glasner Studio Virtual Tour and the book “Edgar Miller and the Handmade Home”, links in bio.

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