- Material : Sardonyx Shell, 9k gold tested.
- Size: 2 6/8" by 2 2/8", cameo itself is 2 2/8" by 1 6/8".
- Date and Origin: Circa 1840 Italy.
- Conditions: Two slightest not noticeable natural lines which are barely visible when cameo is backlit, mentioned only for accuracy. Some traces of soldering on the back close to the pin. Three microscopic spots on the clouds.
Museum Quality Cameo depicting Mars the God of War on his biga. This is a cameo of surpassing beauty an incredible work of art and very detailed, carved by an artist.The large profusion of details masterfully carved and overall the reality of the scene. This cameo is after a Raphael fresco ceiling in the Sala Borgia in the Vatican Museum, and after an engraving by Pietro Antonio Leone Bettelini (1763 - 1829 Italy), see picture below. The carving is three dimensional and superb, look at the horse who is turning his head toward Mars, simply amazing. The body of Mars is a triumph of darting muscles while he's standing proud and erect on his biga holding the reins and his spear. The biga, or chariot, is wonderfully carved and full decorated, the shield of Mars is in the back of the biga. All these details are exclusively due to the skill of a great master carver of the past. The frame is spectacular too, etruscan style, very finely chiselled. Rarest cameo very desirable collector piece.
A bit of History:
Mars (Latin), son of Juno (Hera in Greek mythology) and Jupiter (Zeus in Greek mythology) is, according to the Roman classical mythology, the God of war, according to the archaic Roman mythology the God of thunder, of rain and of fertility. Initially identified with the etruscan God Maris, God of fertility, of nature, a warlike God and not of the war. Subsequently Mars as the Greek god Ares was assigned to the role of God of war. Mars in the Roman society assumed a more important role of the Greek (Ares) counterpart because he was considered the husband of Rea Silvia and father of Romulus and Remus that founded Rome. Mars was considered the father of the Roman people and the Romans were used to call themselves children of Mars. The month of March, the day Tuesday and the planet Mars due to him their name.
