SALE Museum Georgian 18K Carnelian Stone & Enamel Cameo of Perseus W/ Carnelian Bead Necklace

Jewelry : Antique : Fine : Georgian : Cameo : Carnelian Hardstone : Mythological : Perseus : Enamel : 18k Yellow Gold : Carnelian Necklace

$2,500 $1,995 USD SALE
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Truly a piece of art history that can be worn without worry and enjoyed every day. Carved to perfection with a gorgeous and rare white enameling in a rare round setting and beads to match. What's not to love?

Agate stone was the original medium for cameo carvings and many purists consider these stones and precious gemstones to be the only true cameos to collect. Not only is this cameo carving gorgeous and a feat of genius, but the 18K and enamel setting itself is astounding. The coordinating beads are the icing on the cake--yum.

There is something about a cameo that is truly captivating. Be it the attention to fine detail, the elegance of the portraits, the story behind the scene... there is simply nothing quite as beautiful as a cameo, and they never go out of style. And stone lasts forever!

What a antique beauty this is from the 1820's! The German carved round cameo was carved from carnelian (sometimes called red) agate stone. The carving depicts Perseus, first of the mythic heroes of Greek mythology whose exploits in defeating various archaic monsters provided the founding myths in the cult of the Twelve Olympians. Perseus was the hero who killed Medusa and claimed Andromeda, having rescued her from a sea monster. The detail in the carving is magnificent as is the setting and definitely museum quality.

The setting was hand crafted of solid 18K gold and accents the bezel set cameo with a surround of white enamel (popular during this period) and 18K gold beads. Both the cameo and setting hail from Germany. The cameo features a hand carved deep carnelian stone cameo with perfectly beveled edges. This was most likely a commissioned cameo by a fan of Perseus. This was a practice of the upper class as the costs were high.

The cameo and setting are in pristine condition. The gold bezel setting measures 1 5/8" (42mm) in diameter. The hardstone cameo alone measures 1 1/4" in diameter. The brooch pin closes with a simple c-clasp and there is a fixed pearl enhancer type bale (a later addition) for use as a pendant with a chain, or to slide over a set of pearls or beads. We are including a beautiful 18 1/4" vintage faceted carnelian stone bead necklace for use with this cameo because they look just too marvelous together, The total weight of the cameo is 13.8 grams, indicative of the fine craftsmanship and materials of this piece. The carnelian necklace has 8mm faceted beads with a 12mm faceted bead clasp which closes with an 14K tube clasp inside. The beads weigh 36 grams.

The hinged pin and clasp as well as the pearl enhancer bale are in perfect condition, denoting that this beautiful cameo must have been worn sparingly. The finest German craftsmanship went into this setting and carving as they took great pride in their reputation as the world's best stone carvers of the time, as well as they do today. There are no nicks, cracks or scratches whatsoever to the cameo. The setting is likewise perfect. Simply fabulous and in absolutely mint perfect original condition!

Perseus - in Greek mythology, son of Zeus and Danaë. His grandfather, Acrisius, had been warned by an oracle that his grandson would kill him and therefore put Perseus and his mother in a chest and threw it into the sea. It drifted to Seriphus, where King Polydectes befriended the two. After a time Polydectes fell in love with Danaë but was embarrassed by the presence of her full-grown son. He sent Perseus to fetch the head of the Gorgon Medusa, thinking that Perseus would die in the attempt. The gods, however, loved Perseus. Hermes gave him a curved sword and winged sandals, Athena a mirrorlike shield, and Hades a helmet that made Perseus invisible. Thus armed, Perseus slew Medusa. While fleeing the other Gorgons, Medusa's sisters, Perseus asked Atlas for help. Atlas refused, and Perseus, by means of the Medusa head, promptly turned him into a mountain of stone. On his way home Perseus rescued Andromeda from a sea monster and married her. When he arrived in Seriphus, he killed Polydectes and his followers. He then gave the Medusa head to Athena. He went with his mother and his wife to Argos. There, while competing in a discus contest, Perseus accidentally killed his grandfather. Thus the prophecy was fulfilled. Perseus was the father of Electryon, who was the grandfather of Hercules. The Gods so loved Perseus and Andromeda that they put them in the sky at the time of their deaths as constellations.

Gemstone and banded agate cameos are considered the original mediums of cameo carvers and the most difficult to carve. Much harder than shell and coral, and not uniformly colored like gemstones, the unique layered bands of the agate stone make their carving indeed a challenge.

During the Renaissance Period, 15th century, carved cameos resurfaced as an art form and medium for jewelry. The Medici family of Florence, Italy, were great patrons of the arts and are credited with restoring the popularity of cameos jewelry throughout Europe. At about the same time, a very high quality agate mine was discovered in southern Germany. This region soon became the center for cameo art and, by the beginning of the 19th century, possessed the most important agate deposits in the world. Skillful experts who have preserved this technique are now found primarily in Idar-Oberstein, Germany. Considered the home of gemstone cameo carving, this town is located in the mountains of southwestern Germany near its border with France. The skill of Idar-Oberstein carvers influenced the origins of the Italian shell cameo, which we all love and adore, as well. This area pioneered, and is credited with developing, refining and upholding the standards for carving quality stone cameos. The once rich deposits of these German mines have today been exhausted and the world is now dependent on South America for its supply of high quality layered agate material for new stone cameo carving.

Most antique and vintage hardstone cameos have at least a few nicks, nibbles or fleabites to their edges from inadvertently being struck against a hard surface. This beauty is perfect. The extraordinary and intricate detail in this carving lead us to believe that it is a rare commissioned cameo carving, although mythological subjects in stone were popular during this period.

I highly recommend this rare antique beauty. It will get worn. A LOT! Just as magnificent with pearls with the white enamel and ivory Perseus. The carving is excellently executed and Perseus is absolutely perfect! Of course, one of the great advantages of hardstone is they can last forever with a minimum of care. Perfect for a family heirloom to be passed from generation to generation as this is a museum piece of jewelry that I GUARANTEE you will include amongst your finest pieces.

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

LAYAWAY AVAILABLE for on this magnificent heirloom piece, as well as on ALL items listed in our shop. 20% down payment with the balance paid within 90 days, 30% down with the balance paid in 120 days. Fee free, it's better than paying credit card interest, no?

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 a lovely rosewood and white leather presentation case, perfect for gift giving, display or storage, along with a copy of our complimentary cameo care instructions to keep her perfect for generations.

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-00673

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As Rare a Beauty One Can Find