• Material: Hard stone,  18k gold marked with the hallmark of the eagle's head on the C clasp.
• Size: 2 2/8" by 1 7/8", cameo itself is 2" by 1 5/8".
• Date and Origin: Circa 1880 Italy. Scratch signed twice on the back with the letters SCC and the numbers 1720 .
• Conditions: Perfect. Original fitted case.

This is an outstanding and gorgeous Museum Quality cameo depicting probably the Roman Empress Livia Drusilla. The  cameo is very large and can be worn as a brooch or as a pendant. The carving on this cameo is really outstanding,  A three-dimensional carving who evidences the magnificent beauty of the subject who really jumps out from the background, the stone is a two layers one, pale brown for the background and white for the carving. She’s pretty and has curly long veiled hair embellished with a ribbon, she’s wearing a laurel crown. Pendant earrings and a beaded necklace complete her look and the veil that covers her hair is tied on her breast. Every detail in this cameo is perfect starting from her prettiest and expressive face. Her eyes really have a pensive and real expression, her Greek nose is more than perfect, her full mouth is absolutely alive, everything is masterly carved. The frame is simple and essential, a gold large ring which makes this cameo even more attractive. A piece who really would deserve to be displayed in a Museum. Another great treat for cameos collectors.

A bit of history


Livia Drusilla (30 January 59 BC – 28 September AD 29) was a Roman empress from 27 BC to AD 14 as the wife of Emperor Augustus Caesar. She was known as Julia Augusta after her formal adoption into the Julian family in AD 14.
Livia was the daughter of Roman Senator Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus and his wife Alfidia. She married Tiberius Claudius Nero around 43 BC, and they had two sons, Tiberius and Drusus. In 38 BC, she divorced Tiberius Claudius Nero and married the political leader Octavian. The Senate granted Octavian the title Augustus in 27 BC, effectively making him emperor. Livia then became the Roman empress. In this role, she served as an influential confidant of her husband and was rumored to have been responsible for the deaths of a number of Augustus' relatives, including his grandson Agrippa Postumus. Augustus eventually adopted her son Tiberius as his heir.
After Augustus died in AD 14, Tiberius became emperor. Livia continued to exert political influence as the mother of the emperor. She died in AD 29. She was the grandmother of the emperor Claudius, great-grandmother of the emperor Caligula, and the great-great-grandmother of the emperor Nero. In AD 42, Livia was deified by Claudius, who acknowledged her title of Augusta.