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Details
AN EXTREMELY FINE 18TH CENTURY GOLD, AGATE CAMEO RING
The oval cameo carved to depict 'Bellerophon Leading Pegasus to Water', the standing Nude figure of Bellerophon beside the winged Pegasus, in 19th century gold ring mount, French mark to hoop
Finger size N
The oval cameo carved to depict 'Bellerophon Leading Pegasus to Water', the standing Nude figure of Bellerophon beside the winged Pegasus, in 19th century gold ring mount, French mark to hoop
Finger size N
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.
Further details
Representations of Bellerophon are rare in 18th and 19th century art, early examples exist in a Florintine bronze by Bertoldo di Giovannin, circa 1480, Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum, and in a sketch by Rubens, circa 1635, Bayonne Musée Bonnat. This cameo was possibly inspired by the second century A.D. Hellenistic relief in the Palazzo Spada, Rome, however the style of the composition of this cameo is more obviously Neo-Classical in interpretation.
To carve a five layered image in agate in which the banding is undulating requires the finest technical ability and displays the glyptic art at its height. Although this cameo is unsigned it is undoubtably the work of one of the great gem cutters of the 18th century.
To carve a five layered image in agate in which the banding is undulating requires the finest technical ability and displays the glyptic art at its height. Although this cameo is unsigned it is undoubtably the work of one of the great gem cutters of the 18th century.