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Intaglio Jewelry :
Classical Revival Seal Rings : Gold Ring with Classical Revival Carnelian Intaglio of a Deity and a Lion
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Gold Ring with Classical Revival Carnelian Intaglio of a Deity and a Lion - FJ.6889
Origin: Europe
Circa: 18
th
Century AD
Collection: Jewelry
Medium: GCarnelian and Gold
$4,300.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
The art of glyptics, or carving on colored
precious stones, is probably one of the oldest
known to humanity. Intaglios, gems with an
incised design, were made as early as the fourth
and third millennia B.C. in Mesopotamia and the
Aegean Islands. They exhibit a virtuosity of
execution that suggests an old and stable
tradition rooted in the earliest centuries. The
tools required for carving gems were simple: a
wheel with a belt-drive and a set of drills. A
special difficulty of engraving intaglios, aside
from their miniature size, was that the master
had to work with a mirror-image in mind.
The Classical Revival was a phenomenon that
swept through Europe in the 18th and 19th
Centuries. A new appreciation for antiquity and
ancient art forms was fostered by discoveries in
the nascent scientific field of archaeology.
Perhaps the Classical Revival also reveals a latent
longing towards the Arcadian lifestyles of
yesterday abandoned as Europe became rapidly
industrialized and increasingly urbanized.
Engraved upon the polished surface of this
precious gemstone is an unusual pairing. On the
right side, facing right, is the head of a deity or
an emperor. A filet, the ancient mark of
leadership, has been tied around his curly hair.
On the left side, facing left, is the head of a lion,
with curly mane. Lion, the so-called kings of the
jungle, have been associated with the ruling elite
since the dawn of civilization. It is unlikely that
this is a representation of a specific god or
emperor. His facial features are far too idealized
to convey a personal identification. Instead, this
intaglio is a romantic fantasy of the past that
continues to intrigue today.
- (FJ.6889)
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