Description:

Western Europe, Neoclassical Period, ca. 1850s CE. A wonderful carnelian intaglio of ovoid form, skillfully incised with a scene from the Iliad of the Roman god Jupiter - Greek Zeus - and Thetis, set in a lovely tube hinge brooch. Boasting a brilliant hue of crimson, the stunning intaglio depicts the moment when the sea nymph Thetis begs Jupiter to intervene and guide the fate of her son Achilles, who was fighting in the Trojan War. Here, the bearded god is shown seated and facing left as he holds a staff in his right hand and his eagle sits below him. The grandeur of the robed Olympian is sharply contrasted by the nude nymph who supplicates before him in desperation, leaning into his lap and raising her right hand to touch his face. Drapery swirls behind her, forming artistic circles. Size (brooch): 1.2" W x 0.8" H (3 cm x 2 cm); (intaglio): 0.7" W x 0.5" H (1.8 cm x 1.3 cm); gold quality: 89.3% (equivalent to 21K+); weight: 5.7 grams

Nicely complementing the red carnelian, the gold brooch is heavily adorned with applied twisted wires and circles of gold that surround the intaglio. Its verso displays a long fastener and "C" catch, allowing the piece to be worn.

Cf. Beazley Gems Archive at University of Oxford, 1839-477.

Provenance: private East Coast collection, New York, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#169466

  • Condition: Intact, excellent, and wearable with impressive preservation of detail.

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January 27, 2022 9:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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