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Encaustic Painted Basalt Vase, Wedgwood, circa 1770
About the Item
A fine, large vase in black basalt, decorated with an en grisaille painted illustration of Orpheus playing his lyre, with a stag sitting quietly by, listening to his playing - and perhaps singing, although his mouth is shown closed.
Orpheus's talent on the lyre is one of the most celebrated aspects of his mythological character. In Greek mythology, Orpheus is renowned as a musician without equal, possessing a skillful mastery of the lyre, a stringed instrument similar to a small harp. His music was said to be so beautiful and enchanting that it could move even the natural world and charm wild beasts.
Orpheus's skill with the lyre is often portrayed as a divine gift, attributed to his parentage or his association with the god Apollo, who is himself a master musician. According to myth, Orpheus was the son of the muse Calliope, which might explain his extraordinary musical abilities.
The most famous tale illustrating Orpheus's musical prowess is his journey to the Underworld to rescue his beloved wife, Eurydice. Moved by his grief and love, Orpheus played his lyre and sang with such haunting beauty that he charmed the ferryman Charon, who transported souls across the river Styx, and even the fierce guardian dog Cerberus, allowing him passage into the realm of the dead.
Orpheus's music softened the hearts of Hades and Persephone, rulers of the Underworld, who agreed to allow Eurydice to return to the world of the living under one condition: Orpheus must not look back at her until they had both reached the upper world. Tragically, Orpheus's overwhelming desire to see his wife caused him to glance back, breaking the condition and losing Eurydice forever.
- Attributed to:Wedgwood (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 13.78 in (35 cm)Width: 8.67 in (22 cm)Depth: 6.7 in (17 cm)
- Style:Neoclassical (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Stoneware,Turned
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1770
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. A very faint scratch to the front, and other slight wear to painting. If you look closely.
- Seller Location:Melbourne, AU
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
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- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Melbourne, Australia
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
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