Rare Museum Quality Victorian 18ct Gold Cameo of Goddess Flora, C1860

An exquisite large and rare museum quality cameo brooch, carved on a fine quality Sardonyx shell, depicting Goddess Flora wearing a flower crown composed of Ipomea/ Morning Glory flowers.

In Roman mythology Flora is a Goddess of Spring and flowers, youth and one of the goddesses of fertility.

Flora (not surprisingly) was a very popular subject of Victorian cameos, but traditionally she is depicted wearing a flower crown of roses, so this image with Flora’s locks adorned with flowers of Ipomea makes this cameo a rare and rather unusual find.

This cameo dates to 1850-60, made in Italy and is a true work of art. The cameo is so finely carved and beautifully detailed - a classically beautiful face with perfect features, flowing locks and delicate lifelike flowers cascading in her hair create a mesmerizing impression and make it stand out amongst the others.

The cameo is signed at the back and is set in a heavy 18ct gold mount decorated with a beaded and rope twist border, perfect match to enhance the beauty of the cameo.

The mount is marked with presumably French gold mark, but worn and hard to make out, so additionally the mount was chemically tested and confirmed to be 18ct gold.

Dimensions: 60x51 mm including frame. Visible part of cameo excluding the frame – 51x42 mm.

Condition: excellent, the shell is in fine condition, frame is also in good order, original c-clasp with base metal pin, there is a later base-metal modification to the reverse to strengthen the pin, professionally done, very neat and effective. The c-clasp closes well, everything is working as it should.

A wonderful cameo to own and admire!

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