Silver statue of Sappho at Bowes Museum, Co. Durham.
Silver figure of Sappho by James Pradier, signed and dated 1848, from the Simonette foundry. Sappho with downcast head is represented leaning with her left palm on a Doric columnar plinth, upon which an upturned bowl of foliage, with Greek key design rests, with an unwound scroll which is inscribed in Greek with the last stanza of her ‘Ode to Aphrodite’. At the foot of the plinth is a ewer with key design and drapery, and a pair of doves whose feet are bound together with a ribbon. In her left hand Sappho carries a draped lyre, whose base is the shell of a tortoise. The figure is draped and sandalled, wears her hair in a band, has a necklace and three bracelets. The base of the statuette is square, with moulded sides, and has a bow front at Sappho’s feet.
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Title: Sappho, Ancient Greek writer of lyric poetry
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Object number: M.234
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Collection: SILVER
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Creator: James (1790-1852) Pradier
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Production place: France
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Date: 1848 – 1848
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Production period: 19th century
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Object name: Statuette
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Material: SILVER