Images(7)

The Daphne Ewer

Object NameEwer

Made FromGlass, Gold, Paint

Date175-225

Place Madeprobably Syria

TechniqueFree-blown, cold-painted, gilded

SizeOverall H: 22.2 cm; Shoulder Diam: 9.5 cm

Accession Number55.1.86

Curatorial Area(s)

Ancient

Exhibitions

Glass of the Caesars

Verres Antiques de la Collection R.W. Smith

Glass from the Ancient World

Past | Present: Expanding the Stories of Glass

Ancient Art in American Private Collections

On ViewAncient Gallery

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

This pitcher depicts the nymph Daphne at the moment of her transition into a laurel tree, her last recourse to escape the god Apollo’s intent to rape her. Cupid, who incited the encounter, and Ladon, Daphne’s river god father who enabled her transformation, look on. The top band of the jug reads “Grace” in ancient Greek. Daphne is a survivor. The evergreen laurel tree became a symbol of victory in the ancient world. The bay leaf of the laurel can be found in kitchens around the world, imparting its subtle yet distinctly bittersweet flavor.

Physical DescriptionThe Daphne Ewer. Translucent and opaque white glass; free-blown, cold-painted and gilded. Ovoid body with ring base of same gather, slightly concave at center, cylindrical neck flaring to wide rim; angled broad strap handle with thumb piece, dormed by pinching handle applied to rim and shoulder. Decoration: on the body a frieze with the representation of Apollo and Daphne, framed at bottom and shoulder by two bands, each with dark red rings enclosing narrower grey rings and a golden band at center, the latter decorated with a row of touching volutes in grey. The upper band also frames, together with a third at bottom of neck, a second narrow frieze, bearing in Greek golden letters with grey contours the inscription: "H-XAPIC", the letters alternating with red quatrefoils and between C and H there is a wheel-like rosette framed by 2 grey volute-like motifs; on the base a red rosette, enclosing a concentric ring of grey dots and framed by another similar one. The scene around the body shows Apollo (Phoebus in Greek letters) running to the right in peruse of Daphne who is being transformed to a tree as Apollo is trying to touch her; on the right is Ladon, her father, sitting on a rock; between him and Apollo is a flying Eros (Pathos in Greek letters) following the latter. The figures are in gold with gray contours, in-between are rosettes with grey laurel branches.
Provenance

Source Ray Winfield Smith (American, 1897-1982) - 1949-10-18-1955-09-09
purchased at auction through Sotheby’s London, lot 282

Former Collection E. L. Paget (Australian) - 1949-10-18
sold at auction by Paget's executrix through Sotheby’s London, lot 282

Former Collection J. Pierpont Morgan (American, 1937-1913) - 1908-07-23

Former Collection Dr. Hochmann - 1895-1895

Former Collection Dr. Terletzky - 1895-1895

Former Collection Professor I. K. Surutschan - 1895
Sch. Hochmann, I.K. Surutschan

Former Collection Pierre Mavrogordato (Greek, b. Russia, 1870-1948)
Odessa, before 1908