Cameo thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Cameo

ca. 1540 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Layered agate cameo of a jester loosely set in an enamelled gold frame with rubies and a rose-cut imitation diamond.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Enamelled gold frame with layered agate cameo, rubies and imitation diamond
Brief description
Layered agate cameo of Henry VIII’s jester, in
enamelled gold and silver mount with rubies
and diamond simulant. Probably England, cameo about 1540,
in a later mount.
Physical description
Layered agate cameo of a jester loosely set in an enamelled gold frame with rubies and a rose-cut imitation diamond.
Dimensions
  • Height: 3.6cm
  • Width: 2.2cm
  • Depth: 0.9cm
Credit line
Lent anonymously
Object history
'It has been suggested that the cameo represents Henry VIII's jester, a rare example of a non-royal, if courtly, portrait.' Philippa Glanville, entry for loan of this cameo to an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich: Henry VIII, A European Court in England, ed. David Starkey. London (Collins and Brown), 1991, p. 115.
Subject depicted
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:MET ANON.1-1980

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdSeptember 29, 2004
Record URL
Download as: JSON