A rare antique 19th century French .800 silver & lapis lazuli wax seal desk stamp. A superb solid silver sculptural figure of a woman. Fully dimensional and of exceptional quality and finely detailed throughout. Depicting Melpomene, the muse of Tragedy. Portrayed in an standing pose, clasping a dagger in one hand and a tragic mask in the other. Shrouded in a cascade of intricate folding robes. Hallmarked with the French head of the wild boar, in use from 1838 to indicate a silver content of .800/1000. Bearing a silversmith's mark. Resting on a magnificent plinth base of lapis lazuli stone. Surmounted with a matrix bearing initials AV encircled by a wreath. Wax seal measures 3 1/8" height x 1 1/4" diameter matrix. In overall good antique condition with general wear commensurate with age and use. Housed in the original presentation box. Box measures
Melpomene is one of the nine muses, the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Her sisters include Calliope (muse of epic poetry), Clio (muse of history), Euterpe (muse of lyrical poetry), Terpsichore (muse of dancing), Erato (muse of erotic poetry), Thalia (muse of comedy), Polyhymnia (muse of hymns), and Urania (muse of astronomy).