Posted 3 years ago
JunkJewelr…
(6 items)
Looking for information on this lovely vintage brooch. It is similar to Wedgwood but it is not marked. Usually Wedgwood cameos are white on the raised part but this is all blue. It feels cold like glass, ceramic or stone - definitely not plastic. It is a scene of a Roman or Greek family and the woman is holding up a young child dressed in what looks like a helmet, shield and spear. Not sure if the casing is real gold, gold plated or gold tone. The rollover pin mechanism doesn't appear to be very old as in an antique type c clasp or trombone would be.
Any information about origin, age or maker would be appreciated.
This was mass produced, surprised I have not seen it before. Difficult to tell from pix what the material is, but either ceramic or glass, I'm leaning toward glass.
My best interpretation of the scene is that it is in the court of Troy, with King Priam (seated) & wife Hecuba, their daughter the priestess Cassandra with the Palladium, lifting it either up or down. A Trojan soldier (Hector?) on the left.
The style is a lot like that of the Poniatowski gems. Did a search but could not find this one.
Interesting piece.
Thanks so much for the information you provided. I agree that it is some type of glass and there is quite a resemblance to the Poniatowski gems. While you say it was mass produced seems odd that there is nothing else quite like out there in internet land. One would think there would be duplicates somewhere. The few places (antique mall/jewelry shops) I took it to had no clue. Mystery still unsolved!
Article re: Discerning a fake cameo:
http://danielleoliviatefftwrites.com/uploads/3/4/5/0/34504770/cameo_course.pdf
I showed this one to the person at Oxford who maintains the Beazley Archives Poniatowski records. She agrees there is a resemblance, but said it is not a Poniatowski gem.
Some mass produced cameos I see repeatedly; others are more elusive.
My Oxford contact informs me that this is a scene of Athena being born from the forehead of Zeus after Hephaistos splits it open. The Poniatowski versions are more spare, e.g.:
http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/99A3E08B-8A26-4F16-9A89-23250D90406B