Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Cameos and Intaglios at the Victoria and Albert Museum

Ring
Germany
ca. 1580
agate cameo of Medusa, enameled-gold setting
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
Italy
ca. 1550-1600
agate cameo of Augustus Caesar, gold setting with pearl
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Jewels that survive from past centuries have already died as objects of any specific superstition. Reduced to aesthetic mementos, they no longer frighten anybody, no longer provide magical consolations. Now, in fact, the awe they still may occasionally be able to excite is the flat, mute, ignorant wonder that these strange little objects survive at all. Deprived of human warmth, they are now no more than toys, a collection of visual toys. But at least they are no longer merchandise.

Pendant
Germany
late 16th century
sardonyx cameo, enameled-gold setting with pearl
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
The Barbor Jewel, England
ca. 1615-25
onyx cameo of Queen Elizabeth I
enameled-gold setting with rubies, diamonds, pearls
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
Germany
ca. 1730
antique cameo, gold setting with amber, turquoises, rubies
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Ring
Roman Empire
5th century
onyx intaglio of Ganymede, engraved gold setting
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Brooch-Pendant
Augusto Castellani, Italy 
1887-88
sapphire intaglio of battle scene
enameled-gold setting with pearls, rubies, diamonds
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Signet Ring
Italy
ca. 1580
bloodstone intaglio with the Head of John the Baptist
enameled-gold setting
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
The Gatacre Jewel, England
ca. 1550-60
amethyst cameo
enameled-gold setting with pearls
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
Italy
ca. 1830
antique agate cameo of Bacchus surrounded by Bacchantes
gold setting
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
Western Europe
ca. 1650
agate cameo of Livia, wife of Augustus
enameled-gold setting
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
Hungary
17th century
agate cameo
enameled-gold setting with rock-crystals and garnets
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Pendant
Switzerland
ca. 1810-1820
hardstone cameo
openwork silver setting with marcasites and pearls
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Brooch
Italy
ca. 1550-1650
agate cameo of panther
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

I am grateful to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for the excellent images.