18TH CENTURY

Details

A pair of European-decorated 'mythological' cups and saucers
18th Century
Enamelled with the figure of Pokris receiving a spear and the dog Lailaps from Minos, King of Crete, the top of the rim inscribed:' PROKRIS.ET.CEFALES.BEVESTIGE.HAAR.ONGELUKIGE.MINNE.MET.SCHENKACIEN' the saucers Chinese, the cups Arita Japanese, damages and repair (4)

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Lot Essay

The story of Prokris and Kephalos is about love and jealousy (Ovid, met.7,672 seq.). Prokris is married to Kephalos who is abducted by Eos. The latter advises him to test his wife's faithfulness, so he disguises himself as a stranger and seduces her. When he reveals his true identity, she flees to King Minos of Crete who presents her with a fast hunting dog and a spear of enerring accuracy. After returning to her husband, the jealous Prokris follows her husband during a hunt. Mistaking her for a wild animal, Kephalos kills his wife and is subsequently sentenced by the areopag and has to leave Athens.

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