Gem on lapis lazuli
Gem in lapis lazuli and gilded silver dating back to the 17th century, depicting the famous myth of Daphne and Apollo
Against the deep blue of a lapis lazuli stone, encapsulated in a gilded silver mount sits the elegant profile of Apollo who, with bow and quiver on his shoulder, is chasing the nymph, Daphne, whose raised arms are being transformed into laurel leaves. The engraving, depicting the famous myth of Daphne and Apollo, dates back to the 17th century.
The collection
The art work
On a fine sheet of lapis lazuli, bordered by a gilded silver frame is a depiction of the tormented love story of Apollo and Daphne: the scene shows the god chasing and trying to capture the nymph while she, elegantly clothed in a long tunic is fleeing her love as she is transformed into a stupendous laurel tree that will separate them forever. Her arms are raised towards the sky to become bending branches, while her feet will become strong roots and her sinuous body will become covered with soft bark as her delicate face disappears among the leaves.
“Though you cannot be my wife you will be my tree. My locks will always possess you, laurel, so will my lyre and my quiver.” This is how Ovid describes the words of Apollo who, unable to keep his love, embraces the evergreen that from then on, will become the very symbol of his worship.
The full collection will be on sale from 20 May in some selected stores and on exclusive pre-sale at ovsfashion.com from 19 May.
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Silver Museum and Palatine Gallery, Florence
The Silver Museum is located inside Palazzo Pitti, the old residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, which contains the precious Medici Treasure, one of the most important collections of Italian decorative arts in the world: this is where works made using a vast range of techniques are kept, a genuine collection of priceless pieces of gold, silver, crystal, ivory and semiprecious stones, plus an important collection of cameos and carved stones that belonged to the de’ Medici family. The Palatine Gallery is located on the main floor of Palazzo Pitti and as well as containing the most important and extensive collection of paintings in Italy, it can also boast a wealth of sculptures, fine furniture and tables inlaid with semi-precious stones, created according to the art of the “commesso fiorentino”, a form of mosaic work typically used in Florence from the 17th century.
Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Milan
The Poldi Pezzoli Museum is a museum residence set up on the wishes of Milanese collector Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli who was born in Milan in 1822 and began collecting art in his twenties. The collection contains not only paintings (including masterpieces by Pollaiolo, Botticelli, Mantagna, Piero della Francesca, Tiepolo and Guardi) but also sculptures and the decorative arts: Weaponry and armour, glass, ceramics, gold, time pieces, carpets, textiles, tapestries and furniture. It is one of the foremost art foundations in Italy and has kept alive the attractions of its museum-residence style to the modern day. The museum’s collection of historic weaponry and armour is made up of 1050 pieces: the bulk of the collection is Italian with a special focus on 16th century parade arms. In addition the museum has an important nucleus of Southern Italian firearms from the same period and a collection of Oriental arms and armour.
