THE BEAR AND THE STRAWBERRY TREE

The history of this symbol goes back over 800 years, it seems that the Madrilenians involed with Alfonso VIII at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212) came under the banner of the Villa. At the time, it consisted of a bear passant on a silver field. In 1222 the banner had to be replaced by a bear resting against a strawberry tree. The reason was a lawsuit that started between the clergy and the Council of Madrid because of some existing forest and pastures near the Alcazar. It was finally decided that the clergywould keep the pastures, while the Council became owner of the groves. In consequence, the clergy put on their banner a bear grazing, while the Council stood the animal on his legs and leant him against the strawberry tree, then a common tree in the area. This banner symbolized that the trees were property of the Villa. Sargadelos, through its ceramics interprets this figure, a symbol of the City of Madrid. Measures: Heigth: 14 cm Weidth: 10 cm