Greek Goddess Demeter Early 20th Century Lamp

Make:  Unknown

Age:  Early 20th Century

Construction:  Bronze Colored Metal/Spelter

Dimensions:  15 3/4" Tall x 12" Long x 8" Wide

Switch Type: Toggle

Condition:  Very good pre-owned vintage condition. Some faint discolored spots on top of base, some wear to finish on figurine's knee. Wiring recently replaced. Please see photos. 

Details:  A rectangular bronze-colored metal base supports a spelter figurine of a seated woman in Classical robes.  Her legs and body face the right, but her head is turned to face front. Her arms, crossed at the wrist, rest on her right thigh, in her left hand she holds a pierced disc.  She appears to be wearing a crown or wreath of leaves, berries and grains.  A bee skep, or hive is nestled against her right hip. It appears to be made of straw or rushes, with bees clinging to it.  A slender curved stem extends from the base behind her, ending above her head in a floral receptacle which holds a standard E12 chandelier bulb. A new cord with incorporated toggle switch extends from the back of the base.  Bottom of the base is covered with black felt.

The figurine may represent Demeter, the Greek goddess of nature and grain. The priestesses in her temples and shrines were known as Melissae, or "bees".  Alternatively, she may depict Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon and hunting.  She is said to have turned herself into a bee to escape the advances of Zeus.