Featured CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

Those are some stunning cameos.

 

I’d like to impose myself for a bit and ask for you collective knowledge. I’ve found a necklace online I rather like. It’s listed as a MOP “warrior” necklace.

Could you possibly ballpark a date for this based on the setting and the style of the carving? Any ideas on who this is supposed to depict? I’m guessing a god vs a warrior. Anything else you could point out I’d greatly appreciate. I rather like the carving but the necklace looks mismatched thanks to that chain and clasp. Not a peep on what those red gems are nor what metal this is. Necklace is 11 inches and the pendant is 2 inches.

 

Hermes/Mercury

 

For some wild reason I thought Hermes had the little wings on his feet. Shows how well I pay attention.

 

With that helmet, I'm seeing a masculine Athena.

 

I agree with Holly that the intention is Mercury/Hermes, but Jivvy is correct that the headgear has a lot in common with the satyr-faced helmet frequently seen on Minerva/Athena. By convention, he has wings on his sandals that enable him to fly & a cap (petasus/petasos) that makes him invisible. He lends both to Perseus so he can rescue Andromeda & slay Medusa. This scrambling of attributes is common in 20th century pieces. It's not a bad carving.

These scrolly silver pieces were made in Italy, probably 800 silver, glass 'gems'. For whatever reason, seem to be more in red, but also blue & green. They are more often helmet shell cameos, but I see no sign that the MOP is a replacement.

You can find both necklaces & bracelets, sometimes a set. I can't date them definitively, could still be making for all I know. No earlier than 1930, I would say.

Not at all, that's what this thread is for.

 

I went male with what looks like a prominent Adam's apple.

 

Which Mercury/Hermes doesn't have, right? IOW, "scrambled."

That's why I bowed to "masculine."

 

Hair is also too short for Athena, much too short.

 

Stumbled over these today- online not in the flesh!

 

Decent cameo earrings always do well, although these look like they are missing some marcasites or other stones?

 

Yes, For $495 you'd have thought they could have replaced them. Nice earrings though- they popped up on my research for my Whitby Jet cat so a bit of a random result!

 

I think Mercury/Hermes, too for the MOP. I have seen him depicted in cameos with wings on his feet and helmet. I LOVE that necklace. Here is a small find, no biggie, I just liked her. Pendant/brooch combo.

 

Sisters. Mom, she's LOOKING AT ME!

 

If you two don't behave, I'll have to separate you!

 

Hi Antiquers,

I've had this cameo for at least 10 years (as I recall) and I still have unanswered questions about it so I am posting on this thread.

When I initially bought it I thought it depicted a party scene, with the woman in the centre holding a flagon of wine. Oops, wrong!

That's a head she's holding! (I only noticed this after I'd bought the cameo, and was looking at it more closely at home, have to admit I was a bit taken aback).

So I believe the scene is Biblical, Judith beheading Holofernes. Why someone would want to wear a cameo like this beats me, but I have kept this cameo anyway just because it is such an unusual example and I am pretty sure to never find one like this again.

Here are my questions:

Is this just badly carved or is it really badly worn, and how would it get so worn as a brooch?
Next question: Time period? The gold frame is unmarked but rather nice, and tests as 14k or thereabouts. I am thinking the cameo if original to the setting is early to mid Victorian, am I correct?
Final question: The shell is very pale, verging on light blue even, does this type of shell have a particular name?

Thanks for any insights.

 

Nice piece and interesting subject! Judith and Holophern are my sentiment too, more than Salomé and John the Baptist.
I’m sure Bronwen or Jivvy know the original picture it was taken from

 

I'm sure @Bronwen knows.

 

It is unquestionably Judith, right after beheading Holofernes, about to pop his head into the sack her maid is holding open. It is a particularly graphic version. There will be a painting behind it; offhand, I do not recognize it. This is where @Jivvy is so good.

It is helmet shell. Cutter used a very thin section, which I think is part of why the relief is low. You are correct that there is not much chance of a brooch becoming worn down to such a degree. I would put it to mid-Victorian. Not surprised to learn it is good quality gold. Have seen over time that when the C catch is that sturdy, whole mount is likely to be good.

This one is in a massive silver cuff bracelet. It is easier to understand how it would see some wear. Someone must have loved it; even detailing on the silver is worn down.



This is a brooch, another great big thing.



Having given her a dagger instead of a sword & setting her in the clouds, it is not clear whether the cutter meant Judith or Melpomene, Muse of Tragedy. Is that a mask or a head? The clouds of Heaven or Parnassus?



It's possible that this is - a more allusive - Judith.



I'm rather fond of these grisly ones. What message would you be sending with that proudly displayed on your bosom?!

 

Michelangelo worked in an assortment of stories & figures into the spandrels of the Sistine Chapel, including Judith. They think he gave Holofernes his own head:

http://www.museivaticani.va/content...tina/volta/pennacchi/giuditta-e-oloferne.html