Victorian 'Psyche' Butterfly Silver Cuff Bangle

$2,250.00

Enquire or Hold

Victorian 'Psyche' Butterfly Silver Cuff Bangle

$2,250.00

Description

DATE: Victorian, c.1880

A charming antique cuff bangle, dating from the Victorian period, circa 1880. With a front panel with an intricately detailed enamelled butterfly, in this instance, signifying Psyche - the soul. The butterfly was often used to represent the soul, and in Greek the word for butterfly is Psyche, but also means "soul". With enamel flowers along with the butterfly, the Victorian "Language of Flowers" is perfectly represented. The bangle is crafted in sterling silver throughout, with a wearable length of 6.4 inches.

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. 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 messed up the job and after he'd sneaked into Psyche's room one night, he struggled to control the pig and scratched his own arm with his arrow. The whole thing woke Psyche who lit a candle by her bed, and Eros instantly fell deeply in love with her....

MEASUREMENTS

Wearable length: 6.4 inches

Width of bangle: 3.2cm

Inner Dimensions: 5.7 x 4.9cm

WEIGHT

48.2g

MARKS

No marks present, tests as sterling silver

CONDITION

Very good