• Material : Sardonyx Shell, 9k gold tested.
• Size: 2 1/8" by 1 7/8", cameo itself is 1 6/8" by 1 5/8".
• Date and Origin: Circa 1850 Italy, frame is probably English.
• Conditions: Perfect. Locket on the back containing a lock of hair inside.

Excellent Quality Cameo depicting St. Matthew and the Angel. This is a lovely and fine  work of art, very detailed cameo, carved by an artist. St. Matthew is here depicted while holding a book and looking back at an angel whose finger is pointing towards the book and his other arm is uplifted pointing towards the heaven. St. Matthew is portrayed as an old bearded man and his face details are stunning. Look at how the hands that holds the book is carved and at the book itself, really lovely. His face expression is the one of someone who is doubtful about something and the angel is taking away his doubt.  Even the angel is superbly carved and his two fingers pointed towards the book and towards the heaven symbolize that the truth is in both, book and heaven.
This is the first time that I find such a subject, very rare on a cameo and finely carved. The frame is lovely too, the right complement for a lovely cameo as this one is. Another treat for all the cameos collectors.