W
e are offering here a
small, banded Sardonyx agate cameo of the muse Terpsichore, the muse of dance and
choral song. The cameo is hand carved in banded Sardonyx agate and set in an
Etruscan revival 14k-15K solid gold pendant. The pendant measures approximately
32mm from top of bail to bottom of the pendant. The pendant is approximately 15mm
wide. The stone that the cameo is carved from measures approximately 17mm tall by
7mm wide. The image is approximately 15mm tall by 6mm wide.
T
erpsichore was a
companion of the Greek gods Apollo and sometimes Dionysus. She was believed to
inspire, at the behest of these gods, the creation of songs and dance by humanity.
She is depicted as a young woman playing a lyre. She is often portrayed in the act
of dance and movement to differentiate her from another muse that is also often
depicted holding a lyre, Erato the muse of erotic poetry. Erato is depicted as
still, usually seated. This muse is definitely in movement with flowing diaphanous
clothing billowing around her. She has the characteristics of Terpsichore not
Erato.
T
he cameo is set in an
Etruscan revival style 14K solid gold pendant setting. The setting is not
hallmarked but has been tested and guaranteed to be at least 14k. The quality of
the Etruscan style granulation work is quite good with attention paid to tiny
detail. This type and quality of gold work became popular in the 1860s and remained
popular up through the beginning of the 20th century. Given the fact that it is not
hallmarked I would date this piece to the late 19th century. The quality of the
Etruscan revival granulation work suggests that time period as well.
T
he cameo itself is of
good quality work. Quite good considering the size of the image. The image is small
and a lot of detail cannot be expected. The image of a dancing young woman playing
a lyre is fully portrayed and when examining the image under magnification one can
see that the carver has included such details as hair, eyes, nose and mouth. The
portrayal of Terpsichore’s clothing in convincingly done as well. The background
of the stone framing the image is polished. The cameo is not signed but does have
two cryptic indecipherable scratched notations on its reverse, one looks like an X
and the other could either be an 11 or possibly 1V.
B
oth the gold mount and
the cameo are in very good condition. The setting shows minor wear but all design
elements are there (its bail may be a replacement). The cameo has no apparent
losses, cracks, chips or damage. This is a convincing and accurate late 19th
century cameo depicting Terpsichore. It has been created paying close attention to
the iconography of the ancient Greco-Roman tradition.
NOTE: Analogous Gem in
the literature: See #520 in Classical Gems Ancient and Modern in the Fitzwilliam
Museum Cambridge by M. Henig. For description of the attributes of the Muses see:
Cameos old and new by Anna M. Miller - page 36.
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