Aubusson Tapestry: Ceres Accepting Cornucopia in Woodland Setting
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Cornucopia - The cornucopia, literally the horn of plenty, is a symbol of abundance and wealth. It is traditionally is represented by a curved goat horn overflowing with grain and fruit.
Modern cornucopias are often depicted as horn-shaped baskets filled with food, and this symbol is often associated with the harvest. This decorative device has a long and ancient history, with roots in Greek mythology.
In one version, when Zeus was playing with the goat Amalthea he accidentally broke off one of her horns. To atone for this, Zeus promised Amalthea that the horn would always be full of whatever fruits she desired. This became the cornucopia of the Roman goddess Copia, the personification of plenty. Other goddesses, including Fortuna and Pax, also held the cornucopia.
In furniture and decorative arts, cornucopia as a decorative element have been popular since the 16th century and can be found on items as diverse as light fittings and candelabra to clocks, sculpture and statuary and furniture.
In ceramics, cornucopia shaped vases were popular in the 19th century, in singles and pairs.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
Early handworked woollen tapestry. Saintly figures. 64 x 52 cm
Doreen Gadsby 1926- 'Late Autumn' oil on board, signed lower left, 35.5 cm x 43 cm
Jem Ward's picture of the great Fight between Tom Sayers & J.C.Heenan, at Farnborough April 17th 1860 for the Championship of England & America', lithograph print, framed, overall 105 x 75 cm.
A framed reproduction French tapestry, the machine woven panel depicting an 18th century scene of a young couple in an idealised bucolic setting, in pastels and muted autumnal shades. Height 99 cm. Width 199 cm