Need detailed photos

[raszpla]

This is beautiful work! clearly see how the artist uses his technical capabilities to the composition

 

[raszpla]

" I have a question... Is the ivory carving a stylized copy of the (Birth Of Venus)?" -I think so

https://www.google.pl/search?hl=pl&tok=hBmZAeNKQ7B-ptj9-L2azw&cp=14&gs_id=5&xhr=t&q=birth+of+venus&safe=off&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bpcl=37189454&biw=1280&bih=699&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&s=

 

[dave_person]

Hi Dyemaker,
It is not "Birth of Venus" although it certainly has similarities to Botticelli's famous painting. The tip off is that she is riding on the back of a dolphin and holds her wedding veil over her head. The carving represents Amphitrite, a sea goddess and in some mythologies, the wife of Poseiden or Neptune. It is probably Neptune's face shown above her head.

dave

 

[raszpla]

Thank you! a very interesting question. This discussion forces me to learn mythology-it is beautiful :hatsoff:

 

[raszpla]

a lack of clear attributes, so we can travel freely imaginative. :hatsoff:

 

[dave_person]

Hi Raszpla,

Here is an image of amphitrite from a fine wheellock gun by Peter Opel.

She was a common subject used by a number of gun decorators during the 16th and 17th centuries.

dave

 

[cynthialee]

I wonder why they chose the wife of Posideon as a common subject for wheel locks?
Unless these guns were expected to see service at sea or in a sea port town it don't make much sense to me.
Obviously I don't know the half of it or I wouldn't be bewildered...

 

[raszpla]

understand. I realize what it was Greek mythology for decorators. I understand the impact that Greek mythology exerted on topics of.
I spend a lot of time mechanics, technology, I invest most of their time in studying the humanities, the sources ornament.I am convinced that it is also a fascinating area and certainly will support my work. By creating a group of people, we have greater strength and increased the chances of satisfaction. :wink: :hatsoff:

 

[raszpla]

it seems to me that this was a convenient excuse for erotic content.
weapon was a male attribute. Male co-led the hunt and war,and I think that's why it's so erotic aspect of the composition.

 

[dave_person]

Hi Cynthia,
You ask a very good question and the answer is a little complex. First, an alternative subject for the carving shown by Raszpla may be Galatea. Raphael painted her in a work called the "Triumph of Galatea". Her myth was that she was an ivory carving sculpted by Pygmalion who fell in love with his work. The goddess Venus (Aphrodite) turned her into a women and she came to Pygmalion riding over the sea on shell boat pulled by dolphins. The story was made famous in a poem by the Roman poet, Ovid. Regardless of who the subject is (although it is not Venus), Raszpla is right. These guns were "boy toys", and the gun in question was probably never used but was a aristocratic presentation gift much like a ceremonial sword or dagger. Subjects from Greek and Roman mythology were very popular at the time and also were socially acceptable ways to portray erotica. Many aristocrats at the time were nothing more than alcohol addled fornicating adolescent twits and I am sure Maucher pandered to their tastes.

dave

 

[raszpla]

Today a friend sent me a picture of a gun wheellok
(the second half of the sixteenth-century)

This is a photo: http://thomasdelmar.com/Catalogues/as270612/lot0490-0.jpg
Use the zoom!

I like the simple way to achieve great elegance. course work required many hours of work but the idea is simple, subtle, and I feel beautiful. :hatsoff:

 

[rickystl]

I purchased genuine pre-ban ivory from: www.boonetrading.com Received good service. In case it's of any interest. Good luck with the project. Rick. :thumbsup:

 

[dyemaker]

Hi Raszpla,

Here is an image of amphitrite from a fine wheellock gun by Peter Opel.

She was a common subject used by a number of gun decorators during the 16th and 17th centuries.

dave

Here she is again on a very elegant looking Maucher stocked rifle. This is one of my favorite wheellock rifles. I think it is beautiful.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/42.50.8

This Maucher stocked rifle is similar to the first pictured but it is a very poor photo. It lacks the carved (wrist) though. Interesting is what is written in the description. "... Patchbox cover with two figures, probably representing Cephalus and Procris, surmounted by a weeping Cupid"... Too small to view, sorry.
http://www.christies.com/lotfinderimages/d14799/d1479934r.jpg

 

[raszpla]

I have a heavy mind!of course! that it is this same characters. only now I see it :hatsoff:
http://images.metmuseum.org/CRDImages/aa/original/DT11524.jpg
http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u344/david_person/amphitrite.jpg

 

[dyemaker]

Another example of Maucher's work. A beautifully carved ancestor of the jaeger rifle. Maucher did make stocks for a few flintlock guns also.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?p=85109

 

[raszpla]

beautiful rifle! :hatsoff:

 

[raszpla]

A different taste are examples of woodcarver, but also very tasty. XVII century.

 

[raszpla]

http://thomasdelmar.com/Catalogues/as260607/lot364.jpg

 

[dyemaker]

In this article the patchbox cover is written as ( The Birth of Venus ). Interesting...anyway there are details about the particular piece here

----> http://www.metmuseum.org/pubs/bulletins/1/pdf/3256089.pdf.bannered.pdf

I hope this was not already given.

 

[raszpla]

Thank you :hatsoff: