• Material: Sardonyx Shell, 15k gold tested.
• Size: 2 2/8" by 1 7/8" cameo itself is 1 7/8" by 1 1/2".
• Date and Origin: Circa 1860 Italy.
• Conditions: A few slightest and shortest natural shell lines, barely visible when cameo is backlit, not visible at all from the front. A few almost not noticeable dents on the frame.

Museum Quality cameo depicting a very unusual Goddess Flora, unusual for some kind of flowers on her hair which usually are not present on other Floras, these flower are bluebells which come down on her shoulder, then we have the classic flowers worn by Flora as roses and daisies. I'm speechless looking at the carving of this cameo. The roses on her hair are so finely carved that seems that you could pick them and smell their perfume, simply incredible.  Look at her long neck and at her long curly hair so superbly carved which wave on her right shoulder as if a sweet wind could move them. Her face is of an absolute beauty, her perfect nose, her full and round and sensual mouth, her sweet expression. You can even see her eyelashes! This cameo is "the ABSOLUTE beauty", you really could forget that it is only a woman carved on stone and you could really desire to kiss her. I really have not words to describe the rare beauty of this huge piece. This cameo shows an unusual sensuality. This is a spectacular work of art that I have had the fortune to find. I don't think that I have to spend other words for this one, the pictures speak by themselves. Every small details is perfectly carved. Simply fantastic. The frame is another artwork made in the Etruscan revival style, massive gold elaborately worked and chiseled. A very desirable Museum Quality collectors piece.

A bit of History:

In Roman mythology, Flora was the goddess of flowers and the season of spring. She was a relatively minor figure in Roman mythology, as there were several more important fertility goddesses, but her association with the spring gave her particular importance at the coming of springtime. Her festival, the Floralia, was held in April or early May and symbolized the renewal of the cycle of life, marked with dancing, drinking, and flowers. Her Greek equivalent was Chloris. Flora was married to Favonius, the wind god.