{"product_id":"early-bow-porcelain-figure-of-polyhymnia-the-muse-of-sacred-poetry-oratory-circa-1750-1754","title":"Early Bow Porcelain Figure of Polyhymnia or Calliope Circa 1750–1754","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA rare Bow porcelain figure representing a muse with mixed attributions of \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePolyhymnia or \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCalliope\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, modelled by the celebrated anonymous sculptor known as the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e'Muses Modeller'\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The winged female figure is seated beside a marbled obelisk, her left arm embracing the monument, and is dressed in flowing white and yellow robes with a puce neckline. She is crowned with a laurel wreath and wears a gilt-decorated blue armlet to her upper right arm. At her feet are an assemblage of martial trophies—including a banner, sword, shield and plumed helmet—carefully enamelled and highlighted in gilding.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e17 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlthough some surviving examples bear the inscription \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e'polimnie'\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on the obelisk and have traditionally been identified as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePolyhymnia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the Muse of Sacred Poetry and Oratory, the martial attributes more convincingly suggest that the figure represents \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCalliope\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Muse of Epic Poetry. In \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Missing Muse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (ECC Transactions, Vol. 19, Part 3, 2006), Mavis Bimson proposed that the martial symbolism reflects Calliope's association with heroic deeds, making this the previously unidentified member of Bow's celebrated Muses series. The presence of wings—unique amongst the Bow Muses—may further allude to her status as the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChief of the Muses\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Raymond Yarbrough, following Aubrey Toppin, has also suggested that the model may represent \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVictory (Nike)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e rather than a muse, illustrating the enduring scholarly interest surrounding this remarkable figure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eComparable coloured examples are illustrated by Peter Bradshaw in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBow Porcelain Figures\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (1992), p.70, pl.25, including the example from the Peter Bradshaw Collection sold by Bonhams on 24 January 2007, Lot 21.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Joseph Handley Collection; \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e                      Simon Spero Exhibition, 2012, no. 34.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e                      Peter \u0026amp; Mary White Collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublished:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Mary White, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeople at the Whites' House\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Vol. 5, 2024, p.213, fig. d.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn exceptionally rare and historically significant figure from Bow's celebrated Muses series, combining ambitious sculptural modelling with rich iconography and the scholarly intrigue that continues to surround its identification.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003ePlease request a product sheet.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique Ceramics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":63897018728825,"sku":null,"price":3600.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0914\/3713\/8297\/files\/early-bow-muses-modeller-figure-muse-calliope-polyhymnia-1750-english-porcelain-2.png?v=1784294903","url":"https:\/\/antiqueceramics.co.uk\/products\/early-bow-porcelain-figure-of-polyhymnia-the-muse-of-sacred-poetry-oratory-circa-1750-1754","provider":"Antique Ceramics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}