id:			143266
accession number:	1967.204
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/1967.204
updated:		2023-08-24 11:35:35.503000

Mirror Support: Siren, c. 475 BC. Greece, Corinth, presumably of Corinthian or Argive origin, 5th Century BC. Bronze with silver inlays; overall: 11.5 x 9 cm (4 1/2 x 3 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1967.204

title:				Mirror Support: Siren
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			c. 475 BC
creation date earliest:		-480
creation date latest:		-470
current location:		102C Greek
creditline:			John L. Severance Fund
copyright:			

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culture:	Greece, Corinth, presumably of Corinthian or Argive origin, 5th Century BC
technique:	bronze with silver inlays
department:	Greek and Roman Art
collection:	GR - Greek
type:		Sculpture
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: Overall: 11.5 x 9 cm (4 1/2 x 3 9/16 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

	title:		Year in Review: 1967
	opening date:   1967-11-29T05:00:00
	<i>Year in Review: 1967</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 29-December 31, 1967).

	title:		Mirrors: Art and Symbol
	opening date:   1984-07-03T04:00:00
	<i>Mirrors: Art and Symbol</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 3-November 18, 1984).

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

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PROVENANCE

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fun fact:
This elaborate siren served a practical function, connecting a separately made handle and mirror, now lost.

digital description:


wall description:
This is a bronze of exceptional quality. When complete, it had a cylindrical handle, probably of painted ivory. The reflecting disk was probably of silver, as are the inlays. The intact mirror was obviously an object of great luxury. Sirens (part bird and part woman) were sea-songstresses whose captivating voices drew sailors off course to their deaths. Sirens also accompanied the dead on their voyage to the underworld. The idea was probably imported from Egypt where human-headed ba birds embodied a deceased person's spirit.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

	The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969</em>. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969.
	page number: 	Reproduced: p. 22
	url:		https://archive.org/details/CMAHandbook1969/page/n44

	The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978</em>. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978.
	page number: 	Reproduced: p. 24
	url:		https://archive.org/details/CMAHandbook1978/page/n44

	The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em>. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1991.
	page number: 	Reproduced: p. 9
	url:		https://archive.org/details/CMAHandbook1991/page/n24

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1967.204/1967.204_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1967.204/1967.204_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1967.204/1967.204_full.tif