Large two coloured agate cameo. Probably Italian circa 1550. Battle of the seamonsters, after the ancient.

 

Size: 52mmx42mm

Ref: CAM 9814

High relief white and grey agate cameo of Antinious, lover of Emperor Hadrian, 117-138 A.D. 

The Greek born Antinious travelled with the Emperor all round the Empire. In 130 A.D. Antonious was drowned, and inconsolable with grief, Hadrian had him declared a god and established the city Antinouspolis in his name.

Size: 21mmx18mm

Ref: CAM 9824

Large honey coloured agate cameo of a wedded couple, c.1600, in a silver gilt frame circa 1650

Size of cameo: 45mmx35mm

Ref: CAM 9818

In medieval Italy treasures of the Etruscans, Greeks and Romans began to appear in the ruins of ancient cities, jewellery set with carved gems, cameos and intaglios - an extraordinary craft nearly lost with the fall of the Roman Empire. These rare carved masterpieces entered and survived in the collections of The Vatican, European Nobles and Royals, but by the beginning of the 15^th Century, supplies began to dry up. To meet the demand re-establishment of the ancient art began with the copying of ancient gems, only to become a reborn art-form with countless portraits of men of the age depicted as Zeus or Hercules and marriage portraits with bride and groom portrayed as Roman Emperor and Empress, or as Pluto and Prosepina.

 

Examples of similar marriage portraits can be seen in the collections of The Louvre, Paris, The Vatican, Rome, The British Museum, London, The Metropolitan Museum, New York. See also Ancient and Modern Jewels In The Collection Of Her Majesty The Queen, Kirsten Aschengreen Piacenti and John Boardman 2008. Pages: 116 – 119.