Please help!

Artzy13 · Mar 27, 2024

This item was found in a storage unit recently. She is made of metal with original paint and also has a hole on each end probably for mounting. Anyone come across one like this?
Age information and/or value would be appreciated.
Thank you

Robot · Mar 27, 2024

Hello Artzy13
Welcome to the "Show"!
The piece you have does appear to be fashioned after:
The 19th Century Muse with a Harp figurines... or 19th Century Spelter Classical Lady with Lyre.
Does yours show any "Markings"?
I am sure Red Coat on this forum may identify your piece?

Joecoins · Mar 27, 2024

The turtle shell lyre. Could be of Apollo, or Hermes, or Orpheus.... ,

Artzy13 · Mar 27, 2024

Joecoins said:
The turtle shell lyre. Could be of Apollo, or Hermes, or Orpheus.... ,

Oh, that makes sense, thank you!

Artzy13 · Mar 27, 2024

Robot said:
Hello Artzy13
Welcome to the "Show"!
The piece you have does appear to be fashioned after:
The 19th Century Muse with a Harp figurines... or 19th Century Spelter Classical Lady with Lyre.
Does yours show any "Markings"?
I am sure Red Coat on this forum may identify your piece?

View attachment 2139644 View attachment 2139645

Thank you for the information, I will watch for Red Coat.

Artzy13 · Mar 27, 2024

Artzy13 said:
Thank you for the information, I will watch for Red Coat.

I forgot to put that I did not see any markings.

Joecoins · Mar 27, 2024

I think because it is a Greek turtle shell lyre, then it would not represent the Roman cecilia, or anyone more modern.
Maybe Erato. But ,
I think it's maybe Eurydice, the girl isn't playing the harp. And she's looking quite depressed.

oldmxrat · Mar 28, 2024

It's a cool piece, whatever it is!

Artzy13 · Mar 28, 2024

Joecoins said:
I think because it is a Greek turtle shell lyre, then it would not represent the Roman cecilia, or anyone more modern.
Maybe Erato. But ,
I think it's maybe Eurydice, the girl isn't playing the harp. And she's looking quite depressed.

Thank you, I am going look up Erato & Eurydice 😊

Red-Coat · Mar 28, 2024

Robot said:
Hello Artzy13
Welcome to the "Show"!
The piece you have does appear to be fashioned after:
The 19th Century Muse with a Harp figurines... or 19th Century Spelter Classical Lady with Lyre.
Does yours show any "Markings"?
I am sure Red Coat on this forum may identify your piece?

Artzy13 said:
Thank you for the information, I will watch for Red Coat.

I can't help much, except that I agree it's 'muse' rather than 'goddess' and Greek mythology rather than Roman. It might be intended to be 'Calliope', the muse in Greek mythology who presides over eloquence and epic poetry, so called from the ecstatic harmony of her voice, like this one:

That one is from an antiques website, measuring 9.64 x 12.2 x 5.11 Inches, said to be a French spelter piece c.1920 and priced at $200, which I think is overpriced even though it's a more skilfully made piece than yours. If the paint on yours is indeed original, that's an indication it's made from a cheap metal such as spelter. I would think yours is also from sometime around the 1920s, or back to the end of the 1800s at the very earliest.

You say it has "a hole on each end probably for mounting". I presume you mean on the plinth, such that it could have been screwed to something. It looks like a mantle ornament to me and may have been screwed to a wooden base, but I wouldn't rule out it having been on top of a clock, depending on how big it is

Joecoins · Mar 28, 2024

Very good info, but I think calliope like the example you shared Redcoat is most often depicted with the scroll.
I don't think any of the muses (I've seen three with harps) would be depicted so sad.
I found Sappho that does look quite similar.

Yet I still feel it's Eurydice. Just look at that sad face. That harp is actualy behind her not on her side. Maybe the harp will disappear if she looks at it... Similar to in the myth of orpheus.
The cult of orpheus is a mystery religion and probably not something openly advertised when people weren't pagan anymore...
I think if Eurydice it would be worth more. Also I'd ask more until I see another example. Depends if you want to part with it quickly or not.

Artzy13 · Mar 29, 2024

Red-Coat said:
I can't help much, except that I agree it's 'muse' rather than 'goddess' and Greek mythology rather than Roman. It might be intended to be 'Calliope', the muse in Greek mythology who presides over eloquence and epic poetry, so called from the ecstatic harmony of her voice, like this one:

View attachment 2139927

That one is from an antiques website, measuring 9.64 x 12.2 x 5.11 Inches, said to be a French spelter piece c.1920 and priced at $200, which I think is overpriced even though it's a more skilfully made piece than yours. If the paint on yours is indeed original, that's an indication it's made from a cheap metal such as spelter. I would think yours is also from sometime around the 1920s, or back to the end of the 1800s at the very earliest.

You say it has "a hole on each end probably for mounting". I presume you mean on the plinth, such that it could have been screwed to something. It looks like a mantle ornament to me and may have been screwed to a wooden base, but I wouldn't rule out it having been on top of a clock, depending on how big it is

Lots of good information, thank you! My original finds online were of spelter pieces that were made for the tops of clocks. I just could never find one exactly like her.
I am anxious to look up Colliope!!!

Artzy13 · Mar 29, 2024

Joecoins said:
Very good info, but I think calliope like the example you shared Redcoat is most often depicted with the scroll.
I don't think any of the muses (I've seen three with harps) would be depicted so sad.
I found Sappho that does look quite similar. View attachment 2139941
Yet I still feel it's Eurydice. Just look at that sad face. That harp is actualy behind her not on her side. Maybe the harp will disappear if she looks at it... Similar to in the myth of orpheus.
The cult of orpheus is a mystery religion and probably not something openly advertised when people weren't pagan anymore...
I think if Eurydice it would be worth more. Also I'd ask more until I see another example. Depends if you want to part with it quickly or not.

I never thought about the facial expression!! I will definitely look up Sappho. Everyone has given me great information and if I stumble on her during my searches, I will for sure post it.
Thank you so much 😊

Artzy13 · Mar 29, 2024

Artzy13 said:
I never thought about the facial expression!! I will definitely look up Sappho. Everyone has given me great information and if I stumble on her during my searches, I will for sure post it.
Thank you so much 😊

Artzy13 said:

Looks like Sappho

Joecoins · Mar 29, 2024

They do really match. But then again they are all a little similar...
Can we get more photos ?
Whats that next to the lyre?
Maybe 3 or 4 more photos of all angles please.
The eyes and gaze in your example and her slouched downward posture appears still more sad...
I guess Sappho could have reason to be sad also.
I have been thinking the presentation of her hand gesture could have meaning also...

Joecoins · Mar 30, 2024

Okay here is another thought. Maybe its not one or the other. Notice the way the ankle is displayed by Sappho... Eurydice is bit by a snake on the ankle. In depictions of Eurydice the snake is not always shown. She holds her ankle aswell..
also Sappho is a later edition to the "muses" ...
So maybe it's the cult figure Eurydice hiding in plain sight . And it's Sappho to those who don't know of Eurydice.
So like maybe the truth has been "occulted"