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Cameo

16th century (made)
Artist/Maker

An intaglio carving is cut into the surface of the material and a cameo is in relief. The art of gemstone carving was known in ancient Greece and Rome and revived in Renaissance Italy, when connoisseurs began to form rich collections of engraved stones, and again in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cameos and intaglios were prized and collected, sometimes as symbols of power and mounted in jewelled settings, sometimes as small objects for private devotion or enjoyment. This object represents a philosopher.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Chalcedony
Brief description
Cameo, chalcedony, depicting a philosopher.
Dimensions
  • Height: 31mm
  • Width: 23mm
Credit line
Given by Dr W.L Hildburgh, F.S.A.
Object history
Given by Dr W.L Hildburgh, F.S.A.
Summary
An intaglio carving is cut into the surface of the material and a cameo is in relief. The art of gemstone carving was known in ancient Greece and Rome and revived in Renaissance Italy, when connoisseurs began to form rich collections of engraved stones, and again in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cameos and intaglios were prized and collected, sometimes as symbols of power and mounted in jewelled settings, sometimes as small objects for private devotion or enjoyment. This object represents a philosopher.
Collection
Accession number
A.40-1937

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Record createdMarch 12, 2009
Record URL
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