Antique Locket Pendant with Hardstone Cameo and Natural Pearls in Gold, c. 1875

Cupid, the winged son of Venus, was the god of desire and love — not all love, but infatuation, the act of falling in love, which he brought about with his arrows aimed at the heart. Here, Cupid is shown in yet another light: as a poet strumming the lyre, presumably singing of the euphoria of first love. The motif is carved from hardstone and stands out in white, like a marble sculpture, against a powder-pink background. The oval cameo is framed by a finely crafted border of gold and shimmering natural pearls. Small gold tendrils and playful leaf motifs reflect the rich design language of historicism. On the back, the piece of jewellery features a glass-enclosed compartment where a romantic memento of a special person—who has hopefully been struck by a golden arrow—can be kept. This is how the piece can be understood: as a romantic souvenir d’amour.

Estimate:$2,226.59

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