All the glass sphinxes shown previously are ‘Egyptian’ sphinxes, with the body of a lion and the head of a human. In most cases, the head is that of a man, and such a sphinx is properly known as an androsphinx.
In classical Greek mythology, however, the sphinx was a monstrous female figure who is said to have guarded the entrance to the Greek city of Thebes, and to have asked a riddle of travellers to allow them passage. She strangled and devoured anyone unable to answer. This ‘Greek’ sphinx is often represented as a monster with a head and breasts of a woman the body of a lioness, the wings of an eagle, and a serpent-headed tail.
Here, then, is an example of a glass ‘Greek’ sphinx atop a decorative plinth. Her well-coiffed hair is held in place with a headpiece or tiara. She measures approximately 12cms at it's highest point, has a 16cms long x 9 ½ cms wide base, and weighs in at 728 grams. There are no identifying marks.
(Permission for the re-use of these images on the GMB granted by Kevin Collins).
It has been suggested that this glass ‘Greek’ sphinx is from a French or Belgian manufacturer, possibly Val St Lambert. Is anyone able to give a firm attribution to the manufacturer of this sphinx, please?
During the 16th century, the Greek sphinx was revived as a decorative motif by the Mannerist school of European art - her coiffed head is erect, and she has the breasts of a young woman, and sometimes sports eagle’s wings, though the body is usually entirely leonine. This revivalist Greek style of sphinx is often referred to as the ‘French’ sphinx, but she appeared widely as a decorative feature throughout Europe from the 17th through to the 19th centuries.
Probably the best known British pressed glass sphinx in the ‘French’ style is that by John Derbyshire from his registered design 299022 of 9 March 1876 – see:
https://sites.google.com/site/molwebbhistory/Home/registered-designs/derbyshire-brothers-designs-by-date/derbyshire-brothers-1875-1877Any more glass sphinx versions to show, please?
Fred