Varia

Wheel engraved mirror

Rare wheel engraved mirror depicting a sitting Omphale holding Hercules' club.                     Low Countries, second half seventeenth century.

In the Greek myths on Hercules is told that he was being sold as a slave to Ophale, the queen Maonië. He was a slave at her palace for a period of three years. She let him do humilating tasks, like spinning wool. When Ophale was in a good mood she let Hercules tell him his adventures, while he was dressed in women's clothing.

Mirror: 14,5 x 21,5 cm (including frame: 26,0 x 33,0 cm)