The Forge of Vulcan, with Venus, Cupid, and Mars, after Thorwaldsen c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have "The Forge of Vulcan, with Venus, Cupid, and Mars, after Thorwaldsen" by the Pichler family. It is a very small, delicate piece. Editor: There's a quiet, almost ethereal quality to it, isn’t there? The figures seem to float, or perhaps they are emerging from a dream. What is the medium? Curator: It’s made from a type of paste, or perhaps ceramic, that has been carved with incredible detail given the scale. It appears to be a scene taken from classical mythology, the gods at work or perhaps at play. Editor: It's interesting how the Pichler family, whose names we do not often hear, took something 'high art' like classical sculpture and turned it into a material object, an intimate and manufacturable item that could be owned and displayed. Curator: Yes, it makes you consider how art objects of immense stature can become distilled into something quite personal. Editor: Indeed, a moment of mythology held in the palm of your hand.