#22 of 2500 Incolay Hinged Case |Vesta feeds the Eternal Flame

Encircled by acanthus leaves, Vesta places incense into the Eternal Fire that has burned in her honor since it was first ignited by the Sacred Fire that Aeneas brought with him when he escaped from Troy. As the goddess of the hearth, which in ancient times was the center of family and religious life, Vesta was worshipped in a round colonnaded temple in the heart of the Roman Forum until the last days of paganism. Her fire was guarded day and night by six Vestal Virgins who served the temple for forty years in virginity.Framing the goddess are vines of roses tied with ribbons on a lattice-work background. The edge of the lid has been adorned with a border of laurel leaves which slope downward onto a petal fluted cuvetto.On the front and back panels a dryad, forest nymph, has come to pay tribute to Vesta. On a field of leaves and flowers that reaches up and forms her legs, the dryad dances in carefree abandonment. From her arms spread out a rinceau border of vines intertwined with roses that continues around the side panels. A simple cameo accents the center and acts as a foil to the dryads. The box is raised on curling acanthus leaves.Faithfully translated from a Louis XV style bronze cofferette into a Limited Edition Musical Decorator Case, LE MAGNIFIQUE exemplifies Incolay Studio's attention to detail that makes this music box a collectors item. For added protection, this is the first Incolay Stone case to have a lock and key. No cracks, damage of any kind. CALL OUT FREE