CIRCA 18TH CENTURY

Details

A EUROPEAN ONYX CAMEO WITH CUPID CATCHING A BUTTERFFLY
CIRCA 18TH CENTURY
.15/16 in. (2.2 cm.) long; ring size 5 ¾

Provenance

M.H. Nevil Story-Maskelyne (1823-1911), Wroughton, Wiltshire, acquired 1860-1899; thence by descent to his son-in-law, William Arnold-Forster (1886-1951), Cornwall.
Catalogue of the Story-Maskelyne Collection of Ancient Gems, the Property of W.E. Arnold Forster, Esq., Sotheby's, London, 4-5 July 1921, lot 309 (part).
Landsberg, acquired from the above (according to auctioneer's book).
Marjorie Bronfman (1917-2012), Montreal, acquired by 1978; gifted to her daughter, Dr. Corinne Bronfman (1947-2022), Washington, D.C.; thence by descent to the current owner.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Hannah Fox Solomon Head of Department, Specialist

hsolomon@christies.com +1 212 636 2256

Lot Essay

Sculpted in a two-layered onyx, white on brown, is a nude Cupid on a short groundline, reaching up to capture Psyche in the guise of a butterfly. The cameo is mounted as a swivel ring in a late 18th century rose gold setting.

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