• Material: Sardonyx Shell, 18k gold tested.
• Size:  2" by 1 6/8”, cameo itself is 1 1/2” by 1 2/8”.  
• Date and Origin: 1858 Italy. Original fitted case and papers which specify the name of the old owner. Case has a label on its base who reads "Diego D'Estrada Fabricant de Beaux Arts - Rome Rue Condotti 32". Cameo is scratch signed on the back with a letter which I think is a "M". 
• Conditions: Immaculate.

Museum Quality cameo depicting a sweet version of Eros, the God of Love, Cupid for the Roman mythology. He is often depicted as a young handsome man or as a little boy. The carving of this cameo is really incredible and the colours of the shell have been used to emphasize the crown of flowers that he's weraing and his wings. This cameo is three-dimensionally carved and the carving is more than superb and fine. A flowers crown with roses, blossoms and leaves on his head tied by a ribbon that can be seen falling softly on his neck. His facial features are lovely, he's very handsome. A part of his bow can be seen behind his right shoulder. This cameo is a real beauty, the white carving on the dark brown of the background is amazing. The shell is so polished that it is sure that this cameo has been never worn, it has been really cared for standing always in its case.  Even if Cupid (or Eros in Greek Mythology) is a very popular Victorian cameos subject, this particular depiction is enough rare, I have had the pleasure to own only another two cameos, one carved on shell and the other one on hard stone, depicting this same subject. All the symbols of Eros are shown, his bow and his quiver full of arrows to break the hearts. This one is a superb Museum Quality cameo enhanced by a spectacular frame, a lot of small gold flowers finely chiselled all around the cameo and four couple of kissing birds at the four cardinal points, the frame is a real poetry. A stunning collector piece. Inside the original case we can find two papers that read "Florence Mary Vansittart" and "Florence Mary Stewart cameo brooch from bishop ...... 1858".  (Florence Mary Vansittart, eldest daughter of Henry Vansittart of The Honourable East India Company. Florence married an officer of The Bengal Army, Lieutenant General John Mackie Stewart of Cairnsmore in 1871.)
This cameo is really a beauty and hard to find in so mint conditions.  This is a cameo  carved by a great artist. All the details are perfectly rendered making this cameo a real work of art. This is another masterly carved cameo. A very desirable collectors piece, rare and museum quality cameo.

 
A bit of History:

Eros  in Greek mythology, was the primordial god of sexual love and beauty. He was also worshipped as a fertility deity. His Roman counterpart was Cupid ("desire"), also known as Amor ("love"). In some myths, he was the son of the deities Aphrodite (Venus) and Ares (Mars).  He was the one lighted the flame of love in the hearts of the gods and men, armed either with a bow and arrows or else a flaming torch. He was also the object of cult. Eros was often portrayed as a child, the disobedient, but fiercely loyal, son of Aphrodite.In ancient vase painting Eros is depicted as either a handsome youth or as a child. His attributes were varied: from the usual bow and arrows, to the gifts of a lover--a hare, a sash, or a flower. Sculptors preferred the image of the bow-armed boy, whereas mosaic artists favoured the figure of a winged putto (plump baby).