Superb Large Antique Capodimonte Figurine

We are able to sell this at an amazing price because we got it at an amazing price. Plus we are offering free shipping and insurance in the US.

Below is some additional information on Capodimonte and Ginori and the myth of Psyche and Cupid.

Size -- it is very large and impressive at 13 inches wide, 10 inches deep, and 10.5 inches high. The base is 1 inch high.

Condition -- Excellent! There is one tiny chip on the yellow garb which we show in the picture, which I'm not sure is really a chip since it seems to be painted over, but I am mentioning it. Also, there is some minor paint loss along the edge of the base on the back. All the places where you would expect damage like the tips of the wings, foot, hands, the top of the yellow garb, and the tips of the daggers are perfect. There is some dirt in the folds and crevices but rather than risk damage we decided to leave it as is.

Capodimonte and Ginori -- Walter Del Pellegrino, Forum Administrator and author of Italian Pottery Marks from Cantagalli to Fornasetti, and other Italian pottery guides provides an excellent write-up on this subject. Please see the Italian Pottery Marks forum, free, and read his discussion of March 17, 2009. It is very informative.

Cupid and Psyche -- Psyche is very beautiful and Venus (Aphrodite) is jealous and vengeful. Venus orders her son, Cupid (a.k.a. Eros), to go and strike Psyche with an arrow and make her fall in love with a monster. Cupid reluctantly agrees but when he sees the beautiful Psyche he gets distracted and pricks himself with his own arrow. Now Cupid is totally in love with Psyche. Eventually Cupid gets Psyche transported to a place where he is able to marry her but he only appears in total darkness so that Psyche never sees her husband. And he instructs her to never try and see what he looks like. Cupid agrees to let Psyche invite her sisters to visit where she admits to them that she has never seen what her husband looks like since he only comes at night in total darkness. Her sisters talk her into bringing in a lamp and dagger and wait until he's asleep, then stand over him and use the dagger if he is a monster. She is surprised to see that her husband is none other than Cupid and accidentally drops oil, or wax, on him. Cupid awakens to his wife standing over him with a lamp and dagger and flees. Psyche is heart broken but they do get back together and have a daughter.

In this version of the figurine Psyche is holding two daggers rather than a lamp. Who knows, maybe the modeler was not happy with the lamp and turned it into a dagger as well. Also, there are other versions of this myth that could have influenced the artist.

Item ID: PE-0009