Extra Rare Museum Quality Shell Cameo Hair Bracelet of Zeus ca. 1850

Date and Origin: Italian circa 1850, mounting and bracelet are English.

Size: Cameo is 2" by over 1 4/8", wearable bracelet lenght 7".

Conditions: A stress line on the left, just close to Zeus' head, I can feel it a bit under my fingernail, a hairline on the right just close Zeus' beard. One of the gold rings which fixed the bracelet to cameo was replaced with a gold wire (see pictures) because it was probably missed. Can be easily replaced.

This is an incredible, more than beautiful and huge piece and a very rare one. It is a morning bracelet made with real hair and centered by a museum quality cameo of Zeus, the King of Gods. Hair are finely plaited to form a band bracelet. They are blond hair, with the time the back of the bracelet has changed color and now it is a dark brown, see picture. This is a rarest find and in excellent conditions for its age. Look at the spectacular carving, this is a real artwork, hard to find today. Rare and desirable cameo bracelet for any collector.

A Bit of History:

Zeus in Greek mythology is the king of the gods, the ruler of Mount Olympus, and the god of the sky and thunder. His symbols are the thunderbolt, eagle, bull and the oak. Zeus is frequently depicted by Greek artists in one of two poses: standing, striding forward, a thunderbolt in his raised right hand, or seated in majesty.Zeus was the child of Cronus and Rhea, and the youngest of his siblings. In most traditions he was married to Hera, although at the oracle of Dodona his consort was Dione: according to the Iliad, he is the father of Aphrodite by Dione. He is known for his erotic escapades, including one pederastic relationship with Ganymede. These resulted in many famous offspring, including Athena, Apollo and Artemis, Hermes, Persephone (by Demeter), Dionysus, Perseus, Heracles, Helen, Minos, and the Muses (by Mnemosyne); by Hera he is usually said to have fathered Ares, Hebe and Hephaestus.His Roman counterpart was Jupiter.

Item ID: 44