Argonaut Carved Mahogany Yacht Plaque
English: c. 1930s
English: c. 1930s
 |
Argonaut Carved Mahogany Yacht Plaque
English: c. 1930s
15 inches high, 11.5 inches diameter, 1 inch thick
$950
|
A carved circular wooden plaque removed from a yacht called the "Argonaut." A gadrooned border encloses a stylized image of Jason, hero of an ancient Greek legend, holding a shield and the golden fleece aboard his ship the Argo. The crown-form pediment is decorated with profiles and front view of the ship hulls. The bold carving, especially in the ocean waves, has a geometrical Art Deco style suggesting the plaque was made in the 1930s.
The story of Jason's quest for the golden fleece was popular in ancient Greek literature. Jason was the son of the rightful king, but his uncle had usurped the throne. When he grew to be a young man, he traveled to his uncle's palace to reclaim the throne. Thinking he could slyly get rid of Jason for good, the uncle cajoled him into undertaking a dangerous journey to retrieve the golden fleece, artifact of a magical ram, which was in the possession of another king. Jason had a ship built, which was named the Argo, and assembled a band of brave young men to accompany him, who became known as the Argonauts. After encountering many dangers and trials, he did indeed succeed in his mission and sailed back to Greece with the fleece. Condition: Generally very good with the usual wear, light chips, cracks, abrasions. |