Exquisite Shell Cameo as a Brooch Set in Silver, Italy c. 1860

19th century cameos are in a class of their own. Whereas in previous centuries cameos had been kept in cabinets and could only be admired by a privileged few, they were now made to be worn. As portable sculptures, they were visible to everyone and testified to the taste and education of their wearers. This exquisite shell cameo shows the profile portrait of Jupiter or Zeus, the most powerful of all the gods of Olympus. His face is classically beautiful, with a Greek profile and full of masculine charm. The leonine hair flows richly around his head; his curls and the wreath of oak leaves are depicted in fine detail. The mostly Neapolitan cameo cutters of the 19th century based their work on copper engravings based on ancient models or works of art from the classical period. The depiction of Zeus on this cameo may have been based on an engraving by Francesco Bartolozzi after an ancient coin showing "Jupiter Dononaeus", the Jupiter of the oracle of Dodona. In Dodona in northern Greece, the seers read the future from the sound of the wind in the oak trees, which is why Jupiter is wearing oak leaves in his hair here. The engraving was widely used and can still be found in various collections today, e.g. in the Minneapolis Institute of Art or in the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. The simple setting of the shell cameo, which makes it wearable as a brooch, is forged from light silver and was probably added to the antique cameo in the 20th century. A beautiful piece of jewellery in very good condition, which should enjoy a place of honour in every collection!

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