Sir Henry Cole
Cameo
ca. 1860 (made)
ca. 1860 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This portrait bears a very strong likeness indeed to photographs and other images of Sir Henry Cole (1808-1882). Cole was founding Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum, and creator with Prince Albert of the Great Exhibition of 1851. It is a fine example of British 19th century cameo-carving.
Shell cameos are much easier to cut than those made from gemstones. Also, the raw material is cheaper and easier to acquire. They were popular in the 16th century and then again in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the passion for carved gemstones led to a parallel explosion in the market for cheaper shell cameos. They are still popular today.
Shell cameos are much easier to cut than those made from gemstones. Also, the raw material is cheaper and easier to acquire. They were popular in the 16th century and then again in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the passion for carved gemstones led to a parallel explosion in the market for cheaper shell cameos. They are still popular today.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Sir Henry Cole (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Layered agate cameo |
| Brief description | Cameo, layered agate, probably of Sir Henry Cole (1802-1882), Great Britain, about 1860 |
| Physical description | A three-quarter bust portrait of an elderly gentleman in 19th century dress. He is bareheaded, with side-whiskers. The oval stone is in two layres, the top layer white, the lower layer tan brown. |
| Credit line | Given by Kazumi Arikawa |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This portrait bears a very strong likeness indeed to photographs and other images of Sir Henry Cole (1808-1882). Cole was founding Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum, and creator with Prince Albert of the Great Exhibition of 1851. It is a fine example of British 19th century cameo-carving. Shell cameos are much easier to cut than those made from gemstones. Also, the raw material is cheaper and easier to acquire. They were popular in the 16th century and then again in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the passion for carved gemstones led to a parallel explosion in the market for cheaper shell cameos. They are still popular today. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.15-2004 |
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| Record created | January 12, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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