Who likes Sparta?

Antique Cameo with the Image of Menelaus set in Gold, c. 1865


€ 980.00 *
Content 1 piece
Incl. VAT, Shipping
Antique Cameo with the Image of Menelaus set in Gold, c. 1865
Antique Cameo with the Image of Menelaus set in Gold, c. 1865
Description
This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!
This cameo was cut after a famous model: It is based on the bust of Menelaus, a sculpture that we find today in the Vatican Museums, see here. It is a Roman copy from around 230-240 BC after the Pasquino on the north side of the Piazza Navona in Rome, which today only survives as a torso. We know Menelaus' story from Homer's "Iliad". According to the story, he was the king of Sparta who married the beautiful Helen. After her abduction by Paris, he gathered a large army and led it to Troy to reclaim his wife, which he ultimately succeeded in doing. The Pasquino sculpture group depicts a scene from the Trojan War. It depicts the moment when Menelaus was guarding the body of Patroclus, Achilles' companion in arms, on the battlefield outside Troy. Here, too, the head of Menelaus is depicted in a calm pose. The probably Italian cameo cutter skillfully used the different layers of the shell to depict Menelaus as vividly as possible. The facial features stand out against the carnelian-colored background in a finely sculpted white. This beautiful work is framed by a simple gold frame with a simple cord band, which can be stylistically dated to around 1865.
Read more
Size & Details
Antique Cameo with the Image of Menelaus set in Gold, c. 1865
Who likes Sparta?
€ 980.00 *
Content 1 piece
Incl. VAT, Shipping
Our Promise
Our Promise
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.

Learn more