SOLD Large 2 7/16" Museum Quality 10K Victorian "Dante Bows Before the Angel Pilot" Shell Cameo

Jewelry : Antique : Fine : Victorian : Cameo : Carnelian Shell : Scenic : Dante's Divine Comedy : Brooch : Pendant : 10k Yellow Gold

 

Fine antique cameo carvings of one of a kind, uncommon scenes are an enigma that sparks the interest of all cameo collectors and lovers. Like solving a mystery, it can sometimes take years to unravel the carver's message or pinpoint the work of art he so long ago sought to emulate. Solving the mystery of this beautiful cameo in 2007 from our collection of one of a kind scene cameos was a challenge that had daunted us for many years. At last, the "cold case" was solved, leading us to Italy's own Dante Alighieri.

This exquisitely carved Italian carnelian shell cameo depicts Dante bowing before the Angel pilot as she delivers poor souls from hell to Purgatory in Dante's masterpiece, "The Divine Comedy". Virgil is with him as part of the tour for Dante of hell, purgatory and heaven that is the basis for the book. This rendition is from Gustave Dore's famous illustration of this scene in the book written between 1308 and 1321. The illustration was added in the early 1850's.

The master carver painstakingly portrays Dante Alighieri, with his big nose and ear flaps, kneeling beside Virgil, with his laurel wreath and Roman gown, as they view the approach of the angel pilot, with her wings unfurled to catch the wind, as the ship sails with a load of the poor souls to deliver to Purgatory. The clouds, mist and calm waters surround them.

The cameo measures 2 7/16" by 1 3/4" and is firmly prong set in solid 10K gold. The shell is thick and solid contributing to the weight of 16.3 grams for this cameo. The sturdy and thick brooch pin (for the heavy clothes of the era) closes with a locking c-clasp. The cameo carving dates to the 1880's. It was retrofitted in the early 1900's in the setting. The original box is included (see picture) and is from:

M. M. Freund Jeweler 777 Broadway Brooklyn, N.Y.

A bale could easily be added for use as a pendant. We can provide this service for you. Please email for information.

Paul Gustave Doré (January 6, 1832 – January 23, 1883) was a French artist, engraver, and illustrator. Doré worked primarily with wood engraving and steel engraving. Doré was born in Strasbourg and his first illustrated story was published at the age of fifteen. Doré began work as a literary illustrator in Paris. Doré commissions include works by Rabelais, Balzac, Milton and Dante. In 1853 Doré was asked to illustrate the works of Lord Byron. This commission was followed by additional work for British publishers, including a new illustrated English Bible. Doré also illustrated an oversized edition of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven."

FROM DANTE'S DIVINE COMEDY: ARRIVING IN PURGATORY, AT ANTE-PURGATORY

Exiting from Hell, one emerges on a flat and reed-grown seashore, with the mass of Mount Purgatory looming above. If one emerges at night, in the southern sky is a cross of four particularly noticeable stars that light up the whole sky. These stars are the symbols of the four Cardinal Virtues, Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice - the virtues of active life, sufficient to guide men in the right path, but not to bring them to Paradise. According to the geography of the time Asia and Africa lay north of the equator, so that even to their inhabitants these stars were invisible, meaning that only Adam and Eve have ever seen these stars, from the terrestrial Paradise, on the summit of the Mount of Purgatory. Possibly the meaning is that these stars, symbolizing the cardinal virtues, had been visible only in the golden age.

People are present by the exit from Hell, mostly those who guide souls up into Purgatory, and know what it is. One of them is Cato. They will challenge those who emerge, and if the emergees do not show proper reverence to God, and that they come here by His will, who knows what may happen?

Along the shore, up the steep slope are shady places where, at dawn, enough dew remains to wash away the stains of Hell from the emergee.

As dawn rises, an angel comes to the shore. It is at first visible as a bright white light moving swiftly over the sea, out of the dawn. As it approaches it can be seen to be standing on a boat, which leaps lightly over the waves, leaving scarcely a ripple behind it, propelled by the angel's outstretched, motionless wings, with no sails or oars. The angel is sufficiently glorious that mortal eyes shrink from it.

The boat which the angel pilots carries a hundred souls to purgatory. They sing 'In exitu Israel de Aegypto' as the boat carries them along. The angel brings its boat to the shore and disembarks the souls there, blessing each one as they step onto the shore.

With all of its souls off-loaded, the angel sails away again in search of more souls to bring here. Similar boatloads of souls arrive on the shores of Purgatory quite regularly.

The newly arrived souls head up Mount Purgatory, guided and hurried along by the likes of Cato, into Ante-Purgatory.

This scene is very, very rare and such a fantastic conversation piece. It has all the attributes cameo collectors and lovers crave: authenticity of the characters, a direct and correct rendition from the best known illustrator of one of the worlds best known books (see picture), age, craftsmanship, beauty and magnificent carving from a thick durable shell. Even the original jewelry box! The shell is so solid that I cannot find the slightest hairline, crack, chip or any other imperfection in it (see back-lit picture). It is in absolute mint perfect original condition and constructed to last many more generations as a museum quality heirloom. A Fantastic Cameo!

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

When you find the perfect gift, you needn't worry about the perfect box. Presentation is where it's at. We all love it! This beauty will be delivered in an elegant rosewood presentation box, perfect for gift giving or storage, along with a copy of our complimentary cameo care instructions to keep her perfect for generations. The original box, of course, is also included.

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: RL-00543

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Very RARE Divine Comedy Scene