Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore

Antique Brooch With Cameo From "Vesuvius lava", Gold Setting, Naples Around 1870

€ 790.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Unit price €790.00 / piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Antique Brooch With Cameo From "Vesuvius lava", Gold Setting, Naples Around 1870

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

A beautiful young lady looks proudly to the right: rich and full, her hair waves over her forehead, head and neck, barely tamed by a knot at the back of her head, wearing an antique robe. Is she a goddess of classical mythology, perhaps even a lovely muse, or is it a youthful beauty from Naples who served as the model for this cameo. Except for a laurel wreath on her head, no attribute gives us a clue that could solve the mystery. Every traveller of the Grand Tour, on his journey through Italy, sooner or later reached the city on the gulf of the same name. The dream destination of mostly young men throughout the 19th century overwhelmed with its seaside location, spectacular views of Mount Vesuvius, gentle climate, rugged yet enchanting cityscape and - last but not least - its rich, immortal art treasures of antiquity. In the 18th century, so many spectacular art treasures had already been brought to Naples from the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, which perished during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. that the museums here enjoyed worldwide fame. Their visit was a compulsory stage in the city. And of course, no one missed out on a visit to Pompeii itself, with its macabre charm. No wonder, then, that souvenirs of this trip were not to be missed: a local art industry emerged, producing especially top quality cameos from coral, shells and coloured local stone varieties, which were sold as "lava" from the volcano. Objects made of this material were particularly appreciated by travellers. We can easily reimagine their fascination: To hold here in our hands a piece of the mountain that had brought such a gruesome end to the life of the Ancient World - but had also made possible its preservation for later generations! What better souvenir is conceivable? Our brooch presents a finely carved cameo of the very same material. The lava shows a particularly beautiful olive-green colour. Particularly rich in detail and plasticity, the cameo creator has succeeded in creating the oval depiction, which is securely held by an ornate gold setting. Created in the 1870s, the brooch is wonderfully preserved and a very special memorabilia from a trip to Italy in the 19th century.

Size & Details

Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore

€ 790.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Unit price €790.00 / piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.

You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.

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