Large Victorian Shell Cameo With Portrait in Gold Setting, c. 1870

A souvenir of the Grand Tour is the shell cameo in the centre of this brooch. The Bay of Naples was an obligatory stop on any educational journey known as the Grand Tour, an indispensable part of the education of young people of the upper classes. In the region at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, specialized artists made portraits of the travellers and carved them into shells. As souvenirs, these representations were given to loved ones back home. Our piece shows the portrait of a middle-aged man in profile. His slightly wavy hair surrounds his head in powerful strands and his face looks determined. Obviously it is the representation of a gentleman who had his portrait cut into a shell in Italy - perhaps as a souvenir of the journey or as an original souvenir for a lady who stayed at home. The cameo is held by an elaborate gold setting, which follows the so-called "aesthetic movement" of the 1870s, placing large spheres against a softly matted gold frame to create highlights. A concealed eyelet allows the large brooch to be worn as a pendant. To this day, the well-preserved piece of jewellery bears witness to a journey to Italy and holds the portrait of an unknown man who had his face carved into a seashell.

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