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Cameo - Diadumenian

Diadumenian

  • Object:

    Cameo

  • Place of origin:

    Italy (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1550-1580 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Carved shell

  • Museum number:

    253-1853

  • Gallery location:

    Sculpture, room 111, case DR4

  • Download image

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. This cameo together with inv. nos. 249-1853, 251-1853 and 252-1853 formed part of a series, possibly made for a royal patron who would have viewed the Roman emperors as his antecedents

Physical description

Cameo made of shell depicting Roman emperor Diadumenian

Place of Origin

Italy (made)

Date

ca. 1550-1580 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Carved shell

Marks and inscriptions

'M. Opelio Diadumenianus Cæ'

Dimensions

Diameter: 1.375 in

Descriptive line

Shell cameo of Marcus Opellius Diadumenian, Italian, ca. 1550-1580

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1853. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 3.

Materials

Shell

Techniques

Carving

Subjects depicted

Laurel wreaths; Diadumenianus, Marcus Opellius

Categories

Portraits; Sculpture

Collection code

SCP

Download image
Qr_O87142
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