Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery

Venus in a Chariot

Cameo
ca. 1750 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

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. Venus, the Roman goddess of love, is shown with her traditional attributes, a pair of doves, who help to draw her chariot. The shape of the cameo suggests it may have been used to decorate the top of a box.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleVenus in a Chariot (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved shell
Brief description
Shell cameo, perhaps from the lid of a box, of Venus in a chariot, French, ca. 1750
Physical description
Chell cameo of epicting Venus, reclining in her chariot amid clouds; around her flows a light drapery and in front are two doves billing.
Dimensions
  • Height: 3in
  • Width: 4.5in
Object history
Bought from Mrs R.A.L. Noel.
Subjects depicted
Summary
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. Venus, the Roman goddess of love, is shown with her traditional attributes, a pair of doves, who help to draw her chariot. The shape of the cameo suggests it may have been used to decorate the top of a box.
Collection
Accession number
A.2-1922

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Record createdJanuary 8, 2004
Record URL
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