Antique Cameo of Venus and Cupid, Italy & England c. 1850

This unusual cameo shows an exciting motif that has its origins in the world of Greek mythology: In very beautiful cut here is an episode from the life of Venus and Cupid depicted. The popular couple of the classical mythological world is guilty of many a great fortune, but also of many a misfortune. The goddess of love Venus, born from a shell and responsible for the flourishing of love on earth, had a little helper: the god of love Cupid. Cupid shoots arrows at people with a small bow - and he usually does this blindfolded, so that his love arrows can also strike unplanned, accidentally and by mistake! Cupid's quiver holds projectiles with different kinds of tips for this purpose. One half of the arrowheads is made of gold, the other half is made of lead. When struck by a golden arrow, people are inflamed with the fire of love; when pierced by an arrow made of lead, they remain indifferent and unimpressed by the charms of another person. On our shell cameo we see the naked winged boy, his bow already cocked and ready to shoot his dangerous arrows. he hovers above the with flowers adorned chariot of Venus, whose proud steeds mount on a band of clouds. Venus holds the reins loosely and holds her attribute, a dove near at her heart. It seems as if the two gods are ready to go into battle and to help love to victory - and who should be able to resist this? The cameo was probably cut in Italy in the years around 1850 and then given a naturalistic setting in England. Small leaves and acorns are set here on the framing. This pretty piece of jewellery came to us from London.

Estimate:$888.38

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