19th Century Opaline 'Milk' Glass Aspasia Salve Liquor Bottles in Blue and Sage
Date: 19th Century
PRICE: $ 1350
(price negotiable and excl. VAT in EU)
Dimensions: H 25cm W 19cm D 9cm
Shipping: $ 50
Stunning set of 19th century Victorian figural Aspasia liquor bottles in pressed opaline milk glass.
One in a vivid almost turquoise bright blue and one in a light sage/pistachio green colour.
Richly adorned with a cherub type face to each end of the body. A pair of courting love birds, a burning heart, and floral decoration on one side. And a pair of 'kissing' love birds, floral decoration and a heart with an arrow through it, on the other side.
On the light one there are also visible rests of gold paint.
Embossed on the top of each shoulder it reads 'Aspasia' and 'Aonaoia' (greek for Aspasia) which means the desired one.
Aspasia or Greek: Aonaoia was an influential immigrant to Classical Athens, she was mentioned in the writings of Plato. Her house became an intellectual centre in Athens, attracting prominent writers and thinkers, including Socrates. According to some ancient writers Aspasia became a hetaerae and ran a brothel. Hetaerae were professional high-class entertainers, as well as courtesans. Besides displaying physical beauty, they differed from most Athenian women in being educated, having independence, and paying taxes. They were the nearest thing perhaps to liberated women.
The 'SALVE' on the bottom (from the Latin verb salvere) means 'to be well'. The Romans used 'Salve' as a command ('Be well!') when they wanted to wish someone good health. So, these bottles used to be filled with liquor and the 'Salve' on the bottom could be in a way meaning 'cheers' or even 'bottoms up'.
For all inquiries and shipping quotes send me an email on: zuskorsten@gmail.com
