Antique Shell Cameo of the Goddess Flora as a Brooch, ca. 1860

Shell cameos with mythological motifs were created especially in the 19th century in Italy for travellers on the Grand Tour. This so-called cavalier tour, which was supposed to perfect the education of the travellers, led to the ancient monuments, to the art collections of Rome and Naples. The early tourists brought back from their trip small souvenirs across the Alps, which would tell of the experiences of the Italian journey. The present cameo was probably also created in Italy and found its way from there to England, where we discovered it. The oval cameo shows a figure of classical mythology: we see the goddess Flora, recognizable by the lush floral decoration in her hair in beautiful three-dimensionality with a slightly lowered gaze. The immortal young lady, beautiful and graceful, was the goddess of spring and flowers. The artists portrayed Flora similar to a Greek spring glory, as a graceful maiden adorned with flowers - and this is exactly the form in which we meet her in this cameo. A fine setting of high karat gold makes the depiction wearable as a brooch. The cameo came to us from London and is in very good condition.

Estimate:$1,338.2

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