Antique Cast Iron Relief Charger From Germany, 19th Century

Description

This cast iron charger from Germany was hand-worked in the 1800s. The low-relief image, in this case, a Bacchanalian scene, … more This cast iron charger from Germany was hand-worked in the 1800s. The low-relief image, in this case, a Bacchanalian scene, is full of hundreds of small decorative and figurative details.

The main body of the charger is recessed below the outer rim, which is adorned with a ring of foliage motif encircling fleur de lys and scrolls. A raised ridge separates the two repeating motifs, with eight mascaron and scrolled medallions interrupting the interior circle. In the center of the charger is a Neoclassical medallion surrounded by Vitruvian scrolls filled with beading. Based on the lively scene of revelry that surrounds the medallion, it is quite possible that the figure depicted in the medallion is Ariadne, the wife of Dionysus (or as the Romans called him “Bacchus”), the Greek god of wine and merriment. It is most likely an interpretation of when Dionysus found her abandoned on the island of Naxos. Numerous figures dancing and partaking in food and drink can be seen along the outside of the medallion, including mythological beings such as putti, satyrs, and nymphs, set amongst flora dotted with overturned drinking vessels. A small bracket is affixed to the verso side, allowing the cast iron German charger to be displayed on a wall. less