Lot Essay
The gems in the above necklace illustrate musical, theatrical and military themes
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Details
An impressive Italian gold and hardstone roman intaglio choker necklace dividing to form a pair of bracelets
The twenty-four coloured hardstone intaglios each with beaded gold wirework mount in the revivalist style and mounted 'en esclavage' between fine gold mesh chains, with baluster detail at intervals, the gems engraved as follows: figure of Abundance (sardonyx), male profile to left (glass), a harpy (cornelian), Mars (amazonite), Mercury (cornelian), seated satyr playing a pipe (nicolo), Melponene leaning on a plinth (cornelian), Hebe and Jupiter (amethyst), female profile to left (cornelian), reclining female with lyre (amethyst), Mercury holding cadeuceus and purse (jasper), Ceres (cornelian), trophy of arms, cornucopia and dolphin (plasma), eagle with victor's wreath (nicolo), Jupiter (blue/grey chalcedony), wreathed male profile to left (cornelian), Minerva with figure of Victory in her outstretched hand (cornelian), seated figure with lyre (sard), seated satyr playing the pipes (sardonyx), warrior preparing for battle (cornelian), seated figure of Plenty with cornucopia (plasma), centaur playing a pipe (lapis lazuli), hunter with boar's head trophy (bloodstone), Minerva standing with shield (glass), the gems 1st-3rd AD, the mounts circa 1865, 37.0 cm overall length, each bracelet 18.0 cm long, in original fitted case inscribed G. Arno, Napoli
The twenty-four coloured hardstone intaglios each with beaded gold wirework mount in the revivalist style and mounted 'en esclavage' between fine gold mesh chains, with baluster detail at intervals, the gems engraved as follows: figure of Abundance (sardonyx), male profile to left (glass), a harpy (cornelian), Mars (amazonite), Mercury (cornelian), seated satyr playing a pipe (nicolo), Melponene leaning on a plinth (cornelian), Hebe and Jupiter (amethyst), female profile to left (cornelian), reclining female with lyre (amethyst), Mercury holding cadeuceus and purse (jasper), Ceres (cornelian), trophy of arms, cornucopia and dolphin (plasma), eagle with victor's wreath (nicolo), Jupiter (blue/grey chalcedony), wreathed male profile to left (cornelian), Minerva with figure of Victory in her outstretched hand (cornelian), seated figure with lyre (sard), seated satyr playing the pipes (sardonyx), warrior preparing for battle (cornelian), seated figure of Plenty with cornucopia (plasma), centaur playing a pipe (lapis lazuli), hunter with boar's head trophy (bloodstone), Minerva standing with shield (glass), the gems 1st-3rd AD, the mounts circa 1865, 37.0 cm overall length, each bracelet 18.0 cm long, in original fitted case inscribed G. Arno, Napoli