Brooch
Jewellery
Inventory number
2023.4.11.12.JW.BC.C1865.ITDescription
Oval brooch, with carved shell cameo representing Pandora carried off by Mercury, mounted in scrolled gilded metal frame. There is a large pin at the back but also a small ring attached to the top, allowing the brooch to be worn as a pendant.The scene represents the moment when Pandora is being brought to earth to Epimetheus, the brother Prometheus, as a vengeance by the gods after the fire was given to humans. Multiple 19th century representations for this specific iconography are known (Mercury flying with Pandora seated in his arms, supporting her body by the legs, her dress swirling behind). The iconography is reminiscent of that of a Flaxman illustration to Hesiod's poems, reproduced in various mediums such as medaillons and bas-reliefs, and might have served as inspiration.
Materials
ShellBrass
Origin
circa 1865 Italy;United KingdomDimensions
Length : 5 cmHeight : 6 cm