• Material: Hard Stone, 18K gold marked, Eagle head hallmark on the pin.
•  Size:  1 1/2" by 1 2/8", cameo itself is 1 2/8" by 1".
•  Date and Origin: Circa 1860 France.
• Conditions: Mint.

Museum Quality of Hebe the Goddess of the Youth pouring nectar. The carving is perfect in every details and even if this is a not too large cameo everything is perfectly rendered, I'm amazed looking at it. Look how the carver used the stone to evidence her face, her hair, the eagle. The delicacy of this piece is truly amazing.  The white carving is a perfect contrast with the black of the background, a three dimensional carving. The stone is perfect. The frame is simple and elegant embellished with pearls. This subject is amazing, everything is so realistic, look at the how the dress is carved, it seems it really moves in the wind. Her feet, even if so small, are superbly made. Her sinuous body is elegant and sexy at the same time. Hebe as cameo subject was very popular in the Victorian era.  This is one of most beautiful cameos I have ever seen, the pictures speak by themselves. This is another masterly carved cameo. A very desirable collectors piece, rare and museum quality cameo.


A bit of History:
 
In Greek mythology, is the goddess of youth (Roman equivalent: Juventas). She is the daughter of Zeus and Hera. Hebe was the cupbearer for the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus, serving their nectar and ambrosia, until she was married to Herakles (Roman equivalent: Hercules); her successor was the young Trojan prince Ganymede. Another title of hers, for this reason, is "Ganymeda." She also drew baths for Ares and helped Hera enter her chariot. Hebe had two children with her husband Heracles: Alexiares and Anicetus. The name Hebe comes from a Greek word meaning "youth" or "prime of life". Juventaslikewise means "youth", as can be seen in such derivatives as juvenile. In art, Hebe is usually depicted wearing a sleeveless dress. There is a statue of Hebe, by Robert Thomas 1966 in Birmingham city centre, England. Antonio Canova also sculpted four different statues of Hebe: one of them is in the Museum of Forlì, in Italy.