Shuttle with Neptune and other figures
Shuttle
ca. 1750 - ca. 1800 (made)
ca. 1750 - ca. 1800 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
On one side of the shuttle Neptune is riding a sea-horse and a mermaid is depicted. On the other side are the figures of Cupid and Abundance. The reliefs are framed by decorative scroll borders. The carving is relatively crude; the piece probably dates from the second half of the eighteenth century, and is likely to have been carved in Dieppe, where there was a flourishing tradition of ivory carving.
The two leading cities for ivory carving were Paris and Dieppe. Luxury items, such as combs were often made in Paris, especially during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. During the seventeenth century Dieppe became increasingly significant for small-scale sculpture in ivory, perhaps because it was a port.
The two leading cities for ivory carving were Paris and Dieppe. Luxury items, such as combs were often made in Paris, especially during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. During the seventeenth century Dieppe became increasingly significant for small-scale sculpture in ivory, perhaps because it was a port.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 5 parts.
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Title | Shuttle with Neptune and other figures (named collection) |
Materials and techniques | Ivory with metal fixings |
Brief description | Shuttle, ivory, Neptune and other figures, France (Dieppe), ca. 1750-1800 |
Physical description | Shuttle, ivory, elliptical carved on one side with Neptune, riding a sea horse, a mermaid and a boat with a sail set; on the other side is Cupid shooting an arrow, a bird and a tree, as well as a female figure holding a bouquet of flowers, probably symbolising Abundance. Both sides are surrounded by rococo borders. |
Dimensions |
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Object history | Bought for £3 15s. in 1892. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | On one side of the shuttle Neptune is riding a sea-horse and a mermaid is depicted. On the other side are the figures of Cupid and Abundance. The reliefs are framed by decorative scroll borders. The carving is relatively crude; the piece probably dates from the second half of the eighteenth century, and is likely to have been carved in Dieppe, where there was a flourishing tradition of ivory carving. The two leading cities for ivory carving were Paris and Dieppe. Luxury items, such as combs were often made in Paris, especially during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. During the seventeenth century Dieppe became increasingly significant for small-scale sculpture in ivory, perhaps because it was a port. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | 749:4-1892 |
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Record created | November 24, 2008 |
Record URL |
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