after:

France 18th century

From Dieppe, Normandy

Râpe à tabac avec les Pèlerins de Cythère

Tobacco Grater with Pilgrims of Cythera

c. 1780

ivory

relief

Dimensions (HxWxD): H. 7 ¹¹⁄₁₆

Acc. No.: 71.346

Credit Line: Acquired by Henry Walters, 1925

Photo credit: The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore

© Artist : public domain

Baltimore, Maryland, The Walters Art Museum

thewalters.org

Provenance

• Paris
• 1925, Baltimore, Henry Walters (1848-1931), by purchase
• 1931, Walters Art Museum, by bequest

Bibliography

• Museum's website (accessed April 28, 2021)

Exhibitions

• 1983-1984 Baltimore
  
  Ivory: The Sumptuous Art, Baltimore, The Walters Art Gallery, 1983-1984

Comment

• Museum's website (accessed April 28, 2021):
  On the front, Cupid leads a couple of "pilgrims of love" to the seashore, where they will embark for the enchanting island of Cythera that, according to mythology, is dedicated to Venus. The back of the object is fitted with grooves to accommodate the metal grater used for pulverizing tobacco for smoking.

---