*
A micro mosaic plaque, circa 1790
$ 42,000.00
Further images
Designed as a swan holding a thyrsus in its beak next to a bronze tizzy, circa 1790, attributed to Giacomo Raffaelli (1753 - 1836). Note: The tesserae applied to depict...
Designed as a swan holding a thyrsus in its beak next to a bronze tizzy, circa 1790, attributed to Giacomo Raffaelli (1753 - 1836).
Note: The tesserae applied to depict a dancing swan (probably in reference to Aphrodite) sipping from a kylix (Ancient Greek vessel for wine drinking) with a thyrsus (a long staff atop which is sat a pine-cone and around which tainia (headdress ribbon worn during festivals in Ancient Greece and to adorn sacred or ritual objects) is wrapped, associated with the followers of Dionysus), and hot coals or embers burn in the foreground (dancing or walking on hot coals is thought to have been a practice of the followers of Dionysus). This scene seems to be a series of references to Dionysus the Ancient Greek god of wine, theatre, pleasure and excess. He is sometimes coupled with Aphrodite as the goddess of love, beauty and pleasure as they both symbolise giving into one's desires.
Note: The tesserae applied to depict a dancing swan (probably in reference to Aphrodite) sipping from a kylix (Ancient Greek vessel for wine drinking) with a thyrsus (a long staff atop which is sat a pine-cone and around which tainia (headdress ribbon worn during festivals in Ancient Greece and to adorn sacred or ritual objects) is wrapped, associated with the followers of Dionysus), and hot coals or embers burn in the foreground (dancing or walking on hot coals is thought to have been a practice of the followers of Dionysus). This scene seems to be a series of references to Dionysus the Ancient Greek god of wine, theatre, pleasure and excess. He is sometimes coupled with Aphrodite as the goddess of love, beauty and pleasure as they both symbolise giving into one's desires.
