Victorian Shell Cameo Brooch after Thorvaldsen, c. 1875

This fine shell cameo from the Victorian period shows a finely carved depiction of the goddess Aurora or Eos, the goddess of dawn. The roses on her fingers echo ancient descriptions such as those of Homer, who described the goddess as "rose-fingered" and thus referred to the colors of the sunrise. The motif of our brooch is based on one of the best-known depictions of Aurora. It was created by Berthel Thorwaldsen, the famous Danish sculptor. In 1815, he created a depiction of the goddess carrying the Genius of Light on her back. The original draft in plaster has been preserved alongside numerous versions in marble in the Thorvaldsen Museum in Copenhagen. The relief, together with its counterpart, the Night, is probably the artist's best-known work. An elaborate setting in archaeological style encloses the finely cut cameo and makes it wearable as a brooch. The gold framing is designed in the style of the years around 1875, so that we can date the work to these years. The cameo, which was carved in Italy, was probably brought to Great Britain by a traveler and set there. We also discovered the brooch in London.

Estimate:£1,243.15

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