Victorian Carved Mother of Pearl Cameo Sterling Silver Brooch of Hebe & Zeus

Victorian Carved Mother of Pearl Cameo Sterling Silver Brooch of Hebe & Zeus

This is an unusual antique Victorian period carved mother of pearl cameo sterling silver brooch depicting Hebe - cup bearer to the gods, serving the eagle form of Zeus. Hebe was the goddess of youth and the cupbearer of the gods. Zeus was her father. This cameo is lightly inscribed "Hebe" on the back. The setting is unmarked but tests positive for silver content of sterling grade. The cameo is held securely within a plain collared bezel, with an old fashioned T hinged pin back and C clasp.

This brooch weighs 11.5 gr. It measures 1.875" x 1.325".

Condition is good.

It is difficult to carve mother of pearl shell with the amount of detail you see in this cameo. The carver was highly skilled and utilized the darker color of the outer shell layer for the figures in relief, and carved down to the whiter layer for the background in contrast. This scene was a popular design that can often be found carved from helmet shell, but I have never seen it made out of mother of pearl before.

Item ID: Au12mc912

Offers considered, except on Red Tag sale items and on items with final reductions.

Gender: Female, Age Group: Adult, Color: Silver, Size: no size

$175 $125 USD SALE

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