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Not currently on display at the V&A

Pendant

ca. 1570-1575 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Banded agate intaglio of Venus in Vulcan's forge accompanied by Cupid in a yellow and rose gold mount


Object details
Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Banded agate intaglio in yellow and rose gold mount
Brief description
Banded agate intaglio of Venus in Vulcan's forge accompanied by Cupid in yellow and rose gold mount. England, intaglio about 1570-5, in a later mount.
Physical description
Banded agate intaglio of Venus in Vulcan's forge accompanied by Cupid in a yellow and rose gold mount
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.2cm
  • Width: 2.8cm
  • Depth: 10.1cm
Style
Credit line
Private Collection
Object history
The parchment document in this loan records that Parker presented an agate to Queen Elizabeth. The Parker Jewel, which is carved with a scene of Venus and Cupid at Vulcan's forge in intaglio is by family tradition the agate concerned. The inscription in the central roundel of the parchment is a triple wordplay on 'achos', cares, 'achates', and Achates, the loyal friend of Aeneas, the legendary founder of Rome. The parallel between Achates and Aeneas, and Parker and the Queen, is a declaration of Parker's own loyalty to Elizabeth.
Production
The mount was added later
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:MET ANON.107-1968

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Record createdAugust 1, 2007
Record URL
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