Sentimental Locket Brooch With Putto Cameo, England ca. 1850

The 19th century was infatuated with cut-stone jewellery. In contrast to earlier eras, when cameos were kept in locked cabinets and delighted only the private collector, they were now meant to be worn as jewellery and admired as transportable works of art by everyone. Cameos with mythological motifs were particularly prized and were made mainly in the Bay of Naples. Northern European travellers brought these often exquisitely carved cameos back home as souvenirs; they were also often imported by traders from Italy to the whole of Europe and set locally. The present cameo brooch dates from around 1850 and came to us from London. A gold frame with surrounding black enamelling holds the showpiece cut from two-tone shell. The oval cameo presents a winged putto playing a lyre. The brooch is a mourning jewellery, which is not only indicated by the black enamelled frame. The lyre is the instrument that was played at funerals in antiquity; it is often depicted on Greek tombstones. On the back of the brooch, a compartment under glass allows you to carry a physical memento with you. A strand of blond hair has been preserved in it to this day. In our days, detached from mourning convention, the brooch can of course also be used as a decorative accessory!

Estimate:$1,000.84

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