Fine Mid-19th Century Shell Cameo Brooch – The Persian Sibyl After Guercino, 9ct Gold

A truly outstanding collector’s cameo, carved in the mid-19th century and depicting the rare and highly desirable subject known as the Persian Sibyl, inspired by Guercino’s celebrated 1647 painting now in the Capitoline Museums, Rome.

What sets this piece apart is the quality of the carving: the drapery is rendered with remarkable precision, the modelling of the face is refined, and the sitter’s expression—calm, thoughtful, almost luminous—captures the spirit of the original composition. Cameos of this calibre have become increasingly difficult to source, and this is exactly the sort of subject that serious collectors of glyptics look for.

The cameo is housed in a well-made 9ct (375) gold mount, tested, with an original C-clasp. Despite its importance as a collector’s piece, it is also beautifully wearable as a statement brooch.

Details:

Period: mid-19th century

Material: shell cameo; mount tested as 9ct (375) gold

Size: 58 × 48 mm (including mount)

Condition: excellent. Light stress lines in the shell (typical of setting; visible to the light only; not felt). Mount and clasp in very good working order.

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