Huge Victorian Cameo Brooch • Goddess Aphrodite

Name: Huge Victorian Cameo Brooch • Goddess Aphrodite
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA970829
Availability: SoldOut

19th century

Sold by Corvidae Antique

Description

An impressively large antique brooch with a carved-shell cameo set into a typically Victorian knotwork frame, believed to be pinchbeck. The cameo depicts a woman in a chariot above the clouds - likely Aphrodite, goddess of love, lust and beauty. Her symbols include birds and flowers and she is described in the poet Sappho's "Ode to Aphrodite" as riding in a chariot pulled by sparrows.

No well-to-do Victorian lady's wardrobe was complete without some type of cameo, an accessory which was popularised when wealthy English people brought cameos home from Italy as souvenirs of their "Grand Tour", particularly once they became a staple of Queen Victoria's dress.

The brooch is in good solid antique condition. The cameo has a small hole in the bottom edge and there are a few stress lines visible under strong light from behind but they do not seem to penetrate the front surface.

Size: Approximately 7.5 x 6.3cm, the cameo itself is around 4.5 x 5.5cm.

Weight: 36.3g.

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Physical Dimensions

Height

7.5cm (2.95")

Width

6.3cm (2.48")

Depth

3cm (1.18")

Declaration

Corvidae Antique has dated this piece to the Victorian era.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA970829

Dealers Notes

Antique and vintage boxes photographed are for display only and are not included unless stated in the description.

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Description

An impressively large antique brooch with a carved-shell cameo set into a typically Victorian knotwork frame, believed to be pinchbeck.

“

The cameo depicts a woman in a chariot above the clouds - likely Aphrodite, goddess of love, lust and beauty.

Corvidae Antique

Her symbols include birds and flowers and she is described in the poet Sappho's "Ode to Aphrodite" as riding in a chariot pulled by sparrows.

fig 1. Huge Victorian Cameo Brooch • Goddess Aphrodite

No well-to-do Victorian lady's wardrobe was complete without some type of cameo, an accessory which was popularised when wealthy English people brought cameos home from Italy as souvenirs of their "Grand Tour", particularly once they became a staple of Queen Victoria's dress.

fig 2. Huge Victorian Cameo Brooch • Goddess Aphrodite

The brooch is in good solid antique condition. The cameo has a small hole in the bottom edge and there are a few stress lines visible under strong light from behind but they do not seem to penetrate the front surface.