Topic: Sowerby 'Perseus'?

[keith]

Icy blue colour,have I got it right this time?

[Lustrousstone]

Sort of, that's Mercury, the winged messenger 

[keith]

That's what I thought but Perseus had winged slippers!!if that's what they called them,

[Lustrousstone]

But Mercury had a winged helmet as well

[keith]

Ok,try this one,on an ancient Greek vase,c.460 BC,Perseus is depicted with his 'winged' slippers and a helmet of invisibility,which just happens to have wings also there is a 3rd century ad bronze statuette of Mercury with winged hat and matching footwear,so,who's going to settle this one?Keith.

[keith]

....and after checking Pamelas site I will now shut up and go and hide somewhere quiet and dark and not come out for sometime....Mercury bowl/vase it is!

[keith]

Have come out of hiding to say I'm not totally responsible for my stupidity,OH says different,saw the piece on a web site(black poppy or something)and they have it listed as Perseus,right I can go back to making barmy attributions,all's well with the world!Keith.

[Adam]

Sorry to put the cat among the pigeons, but at Sowerbys we always knew this as the "Hermes" vase, so much so that I can't remember the catalogue number.  Such names seemed to have been handed down internally, possibly from the original designer whether or not the name ever made the light of day in catalogues etc.

My classical education is sufficiently close to zero for me not to comment on the rights and wrongs of any of the names!

Adam D.

[keith]

 Hermes,son of Zeus and Maia,usually depicted on a pillar with,how do you say...in an excited condition,no wings,Keith.(would make an interesting piece)

[Cathy B]

Hermes was from Greek mythology, whereas Mercury was his Roman equivalent. Roman gods are often adapted from Greek originals.