The Abduction of Europa: A Fine Early 18th Century Ivory...
The Abduction of Europa: A Fine Early 18th Century Ivory Brisé Fan, with tortoiseshell thumb guards, the recto painted with a charming and detailed depiction of Europa, a Phoenician princess. Having been leisurely picking flowers with her maidens, Europa came across a fine white bull amidst her father's herds, unaware that Zeus had assumed this form in order to beguile her and whisk her off to Crete where he showered her with gifts, revealed his true identity and appointed her the first Queen of Crete. A Nereid (sea nymph) holding a flaming torch and proffering a garland of flowers, is shown riding a dolphin to the left of the scene. The verso is well painted with a lady seated at the waterside, a large stone building behind trees, a peacock at her feet. Perched on her right hand, a red parrot, considered since ancient times to be a symbol of fidelity, lasting love and commitment. Contained in a card fan box covered in brocade, woven in bands of cream, green, red and light blue. Guard length 8.25 inches or 21cm
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The Abduction of Europa: A Fine Early 18th Century Ivory Brisé Fan, with tortoiseshell thumb guards, the recto painted with a charming and detailed depiction of Europa, a Phoenician princess. Having been leisurely picking flowers with her maidens, Europa came across a fine white bull amidst her father's herds, unaware that Zeus had assumed this form in order to beguile her and whisk her off to Crete where he showered her with gifts, revealed his true identity and appointed her the first Queen of Crete. A Nereid (sea nymph) holding a flaming torch and proffering a garland of flowers, is shown riding a dolphin to the left of the scene. The verso is well painted with a lady seated at the waterside, a large stone building behind trees, a peacock at her feet. Perched on her right hand, a red parrot, considered since ancient times to be a symbol of fidelity, lasting love and commitment. Contained in a card fan box covered in brocade, woven in bands of cream, green, red and light blue. Guard length 8.25 inches or 21cm
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