A NEAPOLITAN MOTHER-OF-PEARL AND GOLD-INLAID TORTOISESHELL PIQUE TRAY

MID-18TH CENTURY

Details

A NEAPOLITAN MOTHER-OF-PEARL AND GOLD-INLAID TORTOISESHELL PIQUE TRAY
Mid-18th Century
Of lappeted oval shape, the border inlaid with engraved panels flanked by scrolling foliage, the cavetto inlaid with Cephalus resting with two dogs within an architectural lanscape, with Cupid and Aurora amidst clouds, minor losses to the inlay
10½ in. (26.5 cm.) wide

Provenance

Mrs. J. Hasson, Bindon House, Langford Budville, Wellington, Somerset.

Lot Essay

This dressing-table shell tray is inlaid with a landscape vignette and scene derived from Ovid's Metamorphoses, celebrating the Loves of the Gods, and depicting Cupid's attendance as the dawn goddess Aurora discovers the hunter Cephalus. Aurora's passion for Cephalus led her to neglect her duty of leading Helios through the heavens and threatened to bring chaos to the universe. Cupid saved the situation by making Cephalus return her love and she carried him off to heaven in her chariot.

Similar scalloped oval trays, including one inlaid with grand-tourists viewing an obelisk amongst Roman ruins, are discussed and illustrated in G. de Bellaigue, The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor, Furniture, Clocks and Gilt Bronzes, Fribourg, 1974, vol. II, p. 827, cat. 231.

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