• Material: Sardonyx Shell, 15k marked.
• Size: 2 3/8" by 1 7/8", cameo itself is 2 2/8" by 1 6/8".
• Date and Origin: Circa 1870 Italy, frame is English.
• Conditions: Immaculate, there is a scratch on the back.

Museum Quality  cameo depicting  Cupid with his bow and arrows. Cupid (Eros in Greek mythology) is here depicted standing and pointing his arrow. A rarest subject, never seen before. Another collector highest quality cameo. The delicacy with which this cameo is carved is amazing. In the Victorian era Cupid was often found in cameos and antique jewellery as the symbol of love. This one is an artwork and in really mint conditions. The proportions of the whole cameo are fantastic and the details crisp and amazing.  The carving is more than superb. Look at the beauty of the whole cameo, isn't it wonderful? All the carving in this cameo is an artwork due to the skill of the carver.  His little puffy  body is magnificently made. Quiver and arrows, which are his symbols, at his feet, under two gorgeous bushes of roses magnificently made. His finger ready to shoot an arrow to make someone falls in love. His expression is playful and sly and he's smiling. A real work of art. The shell is so polished and brilliant, hard to believe if you think that this cameo is almost 160 years old. The frame is simply worked a gold rope around the gold plain frame. This is another masterly carved of a  surpassing beauty, carved by an artist. Every details is perfectly rendered making  this cameo a real work of art. 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).