An early 19th century shell cameo gold suite of jewellery
An early 19th century shell cameo gold suite of jewellery, including a necklace and brooch, the shell cameos set in gold cannetille mounts with pellet decoration, necklace 39cm long, largest cameo 3cm wide, brooch 3.5cm wide, fitted case
The cameos depicting:
Necklace (from male clasp end): Venus seated next to a ritual pyre of love, Psyche and infant Cupid, Cupid riding a chariot pulled by lions (an allegory of the conquest of strength by love), Victory riding a biga, the infant Bacchus entrusted to the Nymphs, Aurora riding a biga, Cupid riding a chariot pulled by two stags, Venus and infant Cupid, Fidelity with a dog, Cupid playing the double pipes. Brooch: a Bacchic revel