Tickets
English
DonateMembership
Tickets

Cheval glass (psyché)

ca. 1810–14
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 553
The psyché was so named for the heroine in La Fontaine's Les amours de Psyché, who was reputed to have looked at a full-length reflection of herself. Specific reference to the myth is in the frieze containing butterflies, symbols of Psyche. An identical gilt-bronze frieze was on a psyché made for Empress Marie-Louise in 1810. The two winged fantastic creatures on the crest hold a wreath, which probably originally contained a decorative motif or monogram.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Cheval glass (psyché)
  • Maker: Attributed to François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter (French, 1770–1841)
  • Date: ca. 1810–14
  • Culture: French, Paris
  • Medium: Amboyna veneered on oak; gilt-bronze mounts; glass
  • Dimensions: Overall: 86 x 48 5/8 x 31 5/8 in. (218.4 x 123.5 x 80.3 cm)
  • Classification: Woodwork-Furniture
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1924
  • Object Number: 24.230
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Cabinet (commode à vantaux), François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter French, Oak, thuya wood veneer; gilt-bronze mounts; marble top, French
Cabinet (commode à vantaux)
François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
ca. 1813–25
Costume Armor in the Classical Style, Hallé French, Helmet: linen, papier-mâché, bole, gold leaf, graphite; tunic: silk, cotton, metal coils and spangles, metallic yarn, French, Paris
Costume Armor in the Classical Style
Helmet includes original paper label of Hallé
ca. 1788–90
Mirror, Amboyna wood with gilt-bronze mounts, French
Mirror
French
early 19th century
Coin cabinet, Charles Percier French, Mahogany (probably Swietenia mahagoni), applied and inlaid silver, French, Paris
Coin cabinet
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1809–19
Daybed (lit de repos), François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter French, Mahogany and mahogany veneered on beechwood; gilt bronze, bronze, lampas, French, Paris
Daybed (lit de repos)
François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
and Georges II Jacob
working together as the firm Jacob Frères
ca. 1795–1803

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries and chronologies from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.