DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12655#0115
GREEK MIRROR-CASES.
41
Presented by F. T. Palgrave, Esq., 1891. The original was found at Paramythia in
Epirus in 1798, and is engraved in Spec. Ant. Sculpt. ii. pl. 20, and Muller-Wieseler, Denkm.
d. a. Kunst, ii. pl. 27, 293 (reversed) ; it is now at Bignor Park, Sussex (see Michaelis, Ancient
Marbles in Gt. Britain, p. 212).
288. Mirror-Case and Cover. On the cover is a relief of a youth seated Plate IX.
on a rock to r., with r. leg crossed over the 1., long hair, and drapery under
him and over 1. arm ; he holds out a cock in both hands to a girl seated before
him. She holds a bird in 1. hand, and her r. is placed on her knee ; her hair is
gathered up at the back, and she wears long chiton, himation over 1. arm and
lower limbs, and sandals. At her further side is Eros to the front, looking at
the youth, with hair gathered in a knot
Inside the mirror-case is an incised design : A youth with long hair, seated
to 1. on a rock covered with drapery, endeavours to remove the drapery of a
Nymph seated facing him. She has long curls, anklets, and drapery over her
knees, which she holds in its place with r. hand, while her 1. is extended to the
youth. The scene takes place in a cave. The composition is very beautiful, and
great skill is exhibited in the drawing.
Diam. 7 in. From Greece, 1891. The head of the girl on the cover is much broken, and
the whole design much corroded. Both conceptions are very fine, and belong to the early part
of the fourth century ; the scene on the cover seems to be an idealisation from ordinary life.
The reliefs are very high, and the bronze in some places has been beaten out to such a fineness
that it is broken, like one of the heads on the Siris bronzes. At the top of the cover is a hook '
for suspension. For the design on the cover, cf. Bull. de Corr. Hell. ix. (1885), pl. 8, p. 249.
289. Mirror-Case with Cover. Outside the cover was a relief, now separately
shewn, representing Phaedra deelaring her love for Hippolytos (cf. Eur.
1 Hipp. 198 ff. and Brit. Mus. Cat. of Vases, iv. F 272): Phaedra is seated to
r. on a four-legged stool with cushion ; she has long curls, long chiton, himation,
silver necklace, bracelet on r. arm, and sandals ornamented with silver ; her
chiton has slipped down her 1. arm, leaving 1. shoulder and breast bare, and
she holds out the edge of her himation in both hands ; her 1. leg is drawn
back. At her further side is an attendant (or perhaps a woman of Troezen)
moving away to r., looking back, with hands raised as if in surprise or horror; •
her hair is waved in front, and she wears earrings, necklace, and bracelets, all of
silver, long chiton and himation, and sandals as Phaedra. Behind Phaedra is
Eros hovering to r., with hair waved and wings addorsed, r. hand extended to
her head ; with 1. he appears to be assisting her to unveil herself, to the horror
of her attendant.
On the lower side of the cover is an incised design, representing Aphrodite
and Aegipan playing at the game of 7revre Xidot.: Aphrodite is seated to 1. on a
bench, turning round to r., with 1. hand placed on the bench and r. hand
cxtended with first finger pointing to the five stones; she wears a close cap,
earrings, bracelets, himation over lower limbs, and shoes. At her r. side is a
small androgynous figure of Eros holding out r. hand to her. Before her on
41
Presented by F. T. Palgrave, Esq., 1891. The original was found at Paramythia in
Epirus in 1798, and is engraved in Spec. Ant. Sculpt. ii. pl. 20, and Muller-Wieseler, Denkm.
d. a. Kunst, ii. pl. 27, 293 (reversed) ; it is now at Bignor Park, Sussex (see Michaelis, Ancient
Marbles in Gt. Britain, p. 212).
288. Mirror-Case and Cover. On the cover is a relief of a youth seated Plate IX.
on a rock to r., with r. leg crossed over the 1., long hair, and drapery under
him and over 1. arm ; he holds out a cock in both hands to a girl seated before
him. She holds a bird in 1. hand, and her r. is placed on her knee ; her hair is
gathered up at the back, and she wears long chiton, himation over 1. arm and
lower limbs, and sandals. At her further side is Eros to the front, looking at
the youth, with hair gathered in a knot
Inside the mirror-case is an incised design : A youth with long hair, seated
to 1. on a rock covered with drapery, endeavours to remove the drapery of a
Nymph seated facing him. She has long curls, anklets, and drapery over her
knees, which she holds in its place with r. hand, while her 1. is extended to the
youth. The scene takes place in a cave. The composition is very beautiful, and
great skill is exhibited in the drawing.
Diam. 7 in. From Greece, 1891. The head of the girl on the cover is much broken, and
the whole design much corroded. Both conceptions are very fine, and belong to the early part
of the fourth century ; the scene on the cover seems to be an idealisation from ordinary life.
The reliefs are very high, and the bronze in some places has been beaten out to such a fineness
that it is broken, like one of the heads on the Siris bronzes. At the top of the cover is a hook '
for suspension. For the design on the cover, cf. Bull. de Corr. Hell. ix. (1885), pl. 8, p. 249.
289. Mirror-Case with Cover. Outside the cover was a relief, now separately
shewn, representing Phaedra deelaring her love for Hippolytos (cf. Eur.
1 Hipp. 198 ff. and Brit. Mus. Cat. of Vases, iv. F 272): Phaedra is seated to
r. on a four-legged stool with cushion ; she has long curls, long chiton, himation,
silver necklace, bracelet on r. arm, and sandals ornamented with silver ; her
chiton has slipped down her 1. arm, leaving 1. shoulder and breast bare, and
she holds out the edge of her himation in both hands ; her 1. leg is drawn
back. At her further side is an attendant (or perhaps a woman of Troezen)
moving away to r., looking back, with hands raised as if in surprise or horror; •
her hair is waved in front, and she wears earrings, necklace, and bracelets, all of
silver, long chiton and himation, and sandals as Phaedra. Behind Phaedra is
Eros hovering to r., with hair waved and wings addorsed, r. hand extended to
her head ; with 1. he appears to be assisting her to unveil herself, to the horror
of her attendant.
On the lower side of the cover is an incised design, representing Aphrodite
and Aegipan playing at the game of 7revre Xidot.: Aphrodite is seated to 1. on a
bench, turning round to r., with 1. hand placed on the bench and r. hand
cxtended with first finger pointing to the five stones; she wears a close cap,
earrings, bracelets, himation over lower limbs, and shoes. At her r. side is a
small androgynous figure of Eros holding out r. hand to her. Before her on