the Asteria Convex Mirror

The Asteria convex mirror is composed of a silver gilt frame with layers of clear and pale grey Venetian glass rods with a scattering of mirrored cabochons.  The cabochons are made, of course, by me.  What I like about this mirror is how the roundness of the cabs contrast with the more linear design of the rods.

This mirror is about  24 inches in diameter.  It is currently in my studio waiting to be shipped to one of my showrooms.  If you are interested contact me directly.

Jewelry for walls.

The Asteria mirror is named after the ancient Greek titan goddess of falling stars, dreams, divination and astrology.  Naturally her daughter is Hekate, the goddess of witchcraft.

Red figure amphora, Circa 5th century BC.  Asteria is on the far right.

Part of the massive Pergamon Alter, carved in the 2nd century, BC.  Asteria is fighting a giant snake on the right.

The following is a very odd and convoluted version of the Asteria myth:

Asteria was the ancient Greek titan goddess of falling stars, dreams, divination and astrology.  Asteria’s name means “of the stars” or “starry one”

Asteria was an inhabitant of Olympus, and like her sister Leto was lusted after by Zeus. In order to escape the amorous advances of the god, who in the form of an eagle pursued her, she transformed herself into a quail and flung herself into the Aegian Sea. It was there that Asteria, metamorphosed into the island Asteria (the island which had fallen from heaven like a star) or the “quail island”.  This then became identified with the island of Delos, which was the only piece on earth to give refuge to her sister Leto when Leto, pregnant with Zeus’s children, was pursued by vengeful Hera( Zeus’ wife).  According to Hyginus, Leto was transported by the north wind Boreas at the command of Zeus to the floating island Delos, and there clinging to an olive tree, she gave birth to Apollo and Artemis.

A different version was added by the poet Nonnus who recounted that, after Asteria was pursued by Zeus but turned herself into a quail and leap into the sea, Poseidon instead took up the chase. In the madness of his passion, he hunted the chaste goddess to and fro in the sea, riding restless before the changing wind and thus she transformed herself into the desert island of Delos with the help of his nephew Apollo who rooted her in the waves immovable.