the Casseopeia convex mirror

In All by Mark Evans

The Casseopeia convex mirror is gilded sunburst that is covered in layers of clear Venetian glass rods. What makes it unique is a “crown” of rock crystal points surrounding the central mirror. The crystal points sprout dramatically giving a startling amount of depth to the design.

Casseopeia is being shipped to my Los Angeles showroom, Jasper. Call 310-315-3028 for more.

The Casseopeia convex mirror is about 16 inches in diameter.

Jewelry for Walls!

Johann Bayer, Uranometria (Ulm, 1661)

This mirror is named for the mythological Queen Casseopeia. Vain, foolish and arrogant she declared that she and her daughter Andromeda were more beautiful than the nymph daughters( Nereids) of the god of the seas, Poseiden. The god was outraged at the insult.

Queen Casseopeia was desperate to find a way to appease the god. She consulted a wise oracle, who told them that the only way to appease the sea gods was to sacrifice their daughter to the sea monster, Cetus.

Accordingly, Andromeda was chained to a rock at the sea’s edge and left to be killed by the sea monster. Perseus( go to https://theartofmarkevans.com/the-perseus-convex-mirror/) arrives to kill Cetus, saves Andromeda and marries her.

Poseidon thought Cassiopeia should not escape punishment, so he placed her in the heavens chained to a throne in a position that referenced Andromeda’s ordeal. The constellation resembles the chair that originally represented an instrument of torture. Cassiopeia is not always represented tied to the chair in torment; in some later drawings she holds a mirror, symbol of her vanity, while in others she holds a palm frond.

Casseopeia thanking Perseus for saving the life of Andromeda. Pierre Mignard circa 1627