George III Silver Greek / Roman Goddesses Vinaigrette

A fine and rare George III silver Vinaigrette of rectangular form with engine turned sides and base, the cast chased and engraved lid decorated with various symbols representing the Greek and Roman Goddesses, including; a mirror for Venus/Aphrodite, goddess of love and fertility, a hound for Artemis/Diana, goddess of chastity and the hunt, a cornucopia containing corn - representing Demeter/Ceres, goddess of the harvest and fertility, Forget Me Nots, representing Mnemosyne, goddess of memory and Mother of the Muses, Primroses, representing Persephone, goddess of Spring, Laurel, representing Daphne daughter of the river god Ladon who requested Zeus to change her into a laurel to escape the attentions of Apollo (representing the triumph of true love), a Temple, probably depicting the Parthenon which was the temple to all goddesses and two pairs of Kingfishers (Halcyon Birds) representing Alcyone and Ceyx and Halcyon Days.

By John Linnit, London, 1819

Sold - £1,650.00