Featured CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

I suppose it's not impossible that Agostino also made gems, but think the mosaic work would have kept him more than busy &, at least in this case, he signed his full name:

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4982005

 

His mosaic work is superb. Maybe Luigi also dabbled in engraved gems? We may never know.

 

Thank you very much, I have learned a lot. So it seems:

1. SiO2 mineral terms: quartz, microcrystalline quartz, chalcedony, .etc

2. General translucent clues: quartz > chalcedony > jasper.

3. Chalcedony terms for specific color: cornelian(red), chrysoprase(green), .etc

4. Chalcedony terms highlighting the color of cameo's background layer: chalcedonyx(white), cornelian(red), sardonyx(darker brown), and onyx(black).

5. Chalcedony terms for color patterns: varieties like banded, layered, or ribbon agate.

 

Properly it should be specified as black onyx. The word 'onyx' comes from the Greek for fingernail, so, unless your fingernails are very dirty, the term properly belongs to the white layer. The black layer has been dyed. The field has not produced a term like cornonyx for ones like your lady.

There's virtually no consistency in how hardstone materials are described. Then there are ones like the Francescangeli bacchante I showed above that are sardonyx but have had the back & edges dyed black.

Think I've posted this before, but can't hurt to have a refresher. This is an agate geode showing the effects that can be produced on chalcedony with various coloring treatments. The (a) section is untreated.

 

I've probably shown this one before, although perhaps not, since she was acquired before my joining here. Malachite, after Thorvaldsen's Shepherdess of Cupids:

 

OK students, what's wrong with this description?

Four shell cameo brooches

 

The infamous "lady with dove" synthetic cameo is included in the group!

 

Give that lady an A+!

 

same for the teacher !

 

I looove malachite as a medium and I adore this image. It has everything. A beautiful woman, a dog, an allegory, and the fun but strange imagery of a basket full of love. The Eastern influence frame is so unique too.

 

My favorite is the amorino patting (or pinching?) the nose of the dog. Think that one is supposed to be faithful love.

 

Seeking help to identify the subject in these cameos. I can only determine that they are not Hera or Beatrice Cenci. Hera/Juno is ruled out due to the non-Roman style turban, which typically drapes straight down from top to bottom, and Hera's turban is usually paired with a crown. The cameo themed on Beatrice Cenci generally matches the poses and attire in Guido Reni's painting, showing a significant difference from the subject in the images below.

 

The first one is in Raspe's catalogue of the Tassie impressions, #14746 - 14752, in a large section of Ladies Unknown, but given the designation The Fair Circassian (or Persian). He says it is after a 'fine print', something we can look for.

The other two are kind of a mashup of the Fair Circassian, Hera & Sappho, Maybe a bit of the gypsy Zingara, another turbanned figure.

 

Evidently this is a cartoon that played on the Circassian:

https://lccn.loc.gov/2006688988

The American explanation helps understand this one, with picture:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-8448

Then there's an 18th century production by one Samuel Croxall that is meant to be 'a dramatic performance'.

 

Amazing! just finished digesting all the content, your help has been truly invaluable.

 

The first one is very good. Appears to be on a whole shell? Are they yours?

 

Yes, the first one is on a whole shell. Here is the link.
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-...ined&queryID=924cf0ff80ec452a74157372249ca8dd

Unfortunately, I dont own any of the three cameos, just came cross the second one, did some search and found others.

 

I have a jewellery box by Incolay that has the Fair Circassian on the lid.

 

Would love to see it! Could you share some pictures of it?