Psyche and Venus (?) thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Psyche and Venus (?)

Snuff Box Cover
mid-18th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Dieppe (made)

This ivory panel was made in ca. 1750 in France, probably Dieppe. The cover is likely to represent Psyche kneeling before Venus, who is seated in a chair and holds a wand in her right hand. The panel was probably once the cover of a snuff box.


Object details

Category
Containers
Object type
Snuff box cover
TitlePsyche and Venus (?) (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory
Ivory
Carving
Brief description
Snuff box cover, carved ivory, Psyche and Venus (?), French, probably Dieppe, mid-18th century
Physical description
Cover of a snuff box carved with a mythological subject. A female figure, possibly Psyche, kneels before Venus (?), who is seated in a chair and holds a wand in her right hand, against a background of three trees. The border is moulded, and decorated with shells at each of the four corners.
Dimensions
  • Height: 5.4cm
  • Width: 8cm
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mr John George Joicey
Object history
Bequeathed by George Joicey Esq., Junior Carlton Club, Pall Mall, London S.W. in 1920. Previously on loan from Mr. Joicey.
Subjects depicted
Tree
Shells
Venus
Psyche
Summary
This ivory panel was made in ca. 1750 in France, probably Dieppe. The cover is likely to represent Psyche kneeling before Venus, who is seated in a chair and holds a wand in her right hand. The panel was probably once the cover of a snuff box.
Bibliographic references
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929, Part II, p. 81
  • Review [1911-1938], Victoria & Albert Museum. Review of the Principal Acquisitions during the Year, London, 1920, p. 5
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, cat. no. 262, p. 273
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.2-1920

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O310949/psyche-and-venus--snuff-box-cover-unknown/
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