Mid-Victorian Two-Tone Coral "Psyche" Butterfly Earrings

Enquire or Hold

Mid-Victorian Two-Tone Coral "Psyche" Butterfly Earrings

$1,400.00

Description

DATE: Victorian, c.1850

Quite wonderful mid Victorian earrings, each on featuring a beautifully carved angelskin coral month with a vibrant red coral dangling beneath. Simple and charming design, with superb detail to the moths, which, in this case, represent the soul or Psyche (Greek word for butterfly).

In ancient Greek mythology, Psyche was the mortal lover of Eros and the daughter of King Artistides and Queen Damaris. She was so beautiful that many in the kingdom abandoned the cult of Aphrodite to worship her instead. Aphrodite, who could bear no rivalry, hatched a plan to punish Psyche when she learned of this betrayal. She sent her son, Eros, to go out and find the ugliest pig he could, and take it to the kingdom of Artistides and Damaris. When he got there, he was to shoot Psyche with one of his arrows and makes sure the pig was the first thing she laid eyes upon. To cut a long story short, Eros bungled the job. After he'd sneaked into Psyche's room one night, he struggled to restrain the pig and scratched his own arm with his arrow. The commotion woke Psyche who lit a candle by her bed, and Eros instantly fell deeply in love with her... the rest, as they say, is history.

STONES

Coral - red and angelskin colours

MEASUREMENTS

Drop: 1.9cm

Width: 1.6cm

WEIGHT

2.2g (pair)

MARKS

No marks present, tests as 9k gold

CONDITION

Very good, light wear commensurate with age. The ear wires are likely later additions