Collection of Carnelian Intaglios Depicting Classical Portraits

#N-0134D: Collection of Carnelian Intaglios Depicting Classical Portraits
Continental, 20th century
Big: Diameter 2.4cm
Small: Diameter 1.5cm
This charming collection comprises twelve oval carnelian intaglios, each engraved with a head or figure drawn from the classical world. Intaglios of this kind, in which the design is cut in recess into the polished face of the stone, descend from an ancient tradition, in which such gems were mounted in signet rings and pressed into wax to seal documents. From the Renaissance onward they were prized anew by collectors, both as miniature works of art and as souvenirs of the Grand Tour.
The stones are of translucent carnelian, ranging in tone from pale amber and fiery orange to deep reddish-brown, each with a smooth domed reverse. The subjects follow Greco-Roman models: bearded philosophers and elders shown in profile, warriors in crested and plumed helmets, and idealised youthful heads in the manner of antique cameos. One stone departs from the portrait format to depict a standing figure.
Engraved in reverse so as to read correctly when impressed, each intaglio concentrates a good deal of detail into a small compass, the curl of a beard, the crest of a helmet, the fall of drapery at the shoulder. Together they form a varied and decorative group, well suited to display, to setting as jewellery, or to collecting in the time-honoured manner.
A delightful set of miniature carvings in the classical taste, these carnelian intaglios would make an elegant and unusual addition to any collection.
$2,250