Mars and Venus and Cupid
Powder Flask
ca. 1830 - ca. 1850 (made)
ca. 1830 - ca. 1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an ivory powder flask with silver mounts made in about 1830-50 in the style of 16th century France. It has a flattened oval form and is carved in low relief with groups of Mars, Venus and Cupid.
The poor carving suggests this ivory is an imitation of French renaissance style, recalling Fontainebleau work.
The poor carving suggests this ivory is an imitation of French renaissance style, recalling Fontainebleau work.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Mars and Venus and Cupid (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Ivory, flattened oval form, carved in low relief with silver mounts |
| Brief description | Powder flask, ivory with silver, Mars and Venus and Cupid, French, ca. 1830-1850, in the style mid 16th century |
| Physical description | On one side of the powder flask Mars, Venus and Cupid are represented, surrounded by garlands of fruit and flowers. A fountain mouth is shown behind the figures, and a mask beneath. On the other side, Athena is crowned by Victory, with the same decorative devices, garlands of fruit and flowers, a fountain mouth behind and a mask underneath. On the underside of the base two winged putti hold a blank shield. The carving is rather poor. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | This object was purchased in 1865 for £40 from a sale at the Pourtalès Collection in Paris, where many Italian art objects were being sold as a result of their flooding the market after the Napolenic wars. There it is stated to have been transformed into a sweetmeat box. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is an ivory powder flask with silver mounts made in about 1830-50 in the style of 16th century France. It has a flattened oval form and is carved in low relief with groups of Mars, Venus and Cupid. The poor carving suggests this ivory is an imitation of French renaissance style, recalling Fontainebleau work. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 71-1865 |
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| Record created | April 1, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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