SALE PENDING 2 3/4" Victorian Hebe & The Eagle Shell Cameo Swivel Memento Locket w/ Original Glass

Jewelry : Antique : Fine : Carved, Cameo : Shell : Sardonyx : Mythology : Hebe : Zeus : Brooch : Pendant : Swivel : Locket

$599 USD ea. SALE PENDING
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Superbly crafted and preserved, this mid 1800's swivel brooch will engage you with its beauty, design and perfection. Swivel brooches and rings that allow the wearer to enjoy "two looks in one" are as exciting to see operate in person today as they were 150 years ago. Who knew in the 19th century that these miraculous marvels would survive into the next century and beyond into the 21st?

Victorian jewelry creations were tiny feats of tantalizing engineering when compared to the likes of The Eiffel Tower and Chicago's Ferris Wheel, which were intended to be only "temporary" exhibitions and appeasements for the masses. But Victorians did love to be charmed, enchanted and amused, if only for a moment.

This swivel locket is large in size at 69x60mm (2 3/4" by 1 3/8") and crafted of Pinchbeck, an alloy resembling high carat gold that was invented in the 1700's. Its design features several parts, with 4mm tubes woven together for the outer frame and a nice thick 11mm bezel to encase the shell cameo and its reverse compartment. Two spinning hinges at top and bottom complete the marriage of these two portions and are decorated with ornamentation that feature hand etchings of the sun, the moon and stars.

The swivel apparatus is still in perfect working order and easily swivels around 360 degrees in either direction. The brooch closure's t-hinge, c-clasp and extra long pin are all original and in excellent working order. There is also a rare necklace bail that appears to be original to this piece. The total weight of this swivel cameo is a hefty 41.3 grams. A thick looped pocket watch style chain would be perfect to wear with this cameo.

The cameo itself is carved from the highly desirable sardonyx shell and is a depiction of the goddess Hebe feeding nectar to her father, Zeus, disguised as an eagle. Hebe was the Greek goddess of youth and cupbearer of the Olympian gods, pouring the nectar for the gods at their feasts. This depiction is very well done with the curves of her flowing gown and heaving bare breasts exceptional. These more erotic cameos were made during this time to stay in Italy. Although England was the Italian master carvers largest market during the Victorian era and most cameos were exported from Italy there, erotic or nude cameos were not exported to England for Victorians would be appalled.

The cameo's condition is pristine without chips, cracks, crazing or striation and with no smoothing or loss of detail. Its reverse glass locket is also in perfect condition with the original glass in place. (Original undamaged glass, devoid of cracks and chips are difficult to locate in these swivel style settings.) They are costly to replace and few jewelers will take on the task. So, it is wonderful when you find them in original condition. This glass locket compartment was designed to hold a locket of hair, photograph or other memento close to the wearer's heart.

Many antique swivel cameos long ago lost their glass and the treasures once stored there. We do not believe that the this glass locket was ever opened and filled. The original seal does not appear to have been altered, which is why the compartment's condition is so perfect.

All antique jewelry collectors and lovers should own a fine swivel cameo. They make gorgeous display stand pieces. This is a beautiful example of a swivel cameo and its pristine without repair condition is far superior to most in all respects.

It will be delivered in a lovely presentation box, perfect for gift giving, display and storage. In addition, we will include a lucite cameo stand and a copy of our cameo care instructions.

For the perfect present, Give a gift from the past.

Always free shipping in the USA with a no hassle return policy. We want our customers to love our pieces as much as we do. If for ANY reason you do not, we are happy to refund your purchase price and the return shipping. And none of those ridiculous restocking fees at Cameo Couture. NEVER will be. We pledge and guarantee every item we sell will be loved or totally refunded so you can try whatever appeals to you hassle free.

Item ID: C-1465

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Erotic Victorian Cameo?