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Antique Brooch With Shell cameo of a Bacchante in Gold, Circa 1905

€ 980.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Antique Brooch With Shell cameo of a Bacchante in Gold, Circa 1905

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

"Be intoxicated, for one must always be drunk, whether with wine, poetry or virtue." These are Baudelaire's famous words, published posthumously in 1869 in the poetry collection Le Spleen de Paris. They were to serve as a motto for entire generations of writers and artists. This piece of jewellery pays homage to pleasure as Baudelaire envisioned it: it depicts a bacchante or maenad, a follower of the god of wine Bacchus or Dionysus. She can be recognized by the vine leaves in her hair. The name maenad is derived from mania, the frenzy, as the god's followers celebrated wild feasts and orgies. Bacchus was therefore also regarded as the god of intoxication. The Bacchante turns her face to the right. Her robe, an ancient peblos, and her rich hair are detailed and expertly crafted. The clear separation between the tinted white of the portrait and the soft, darker background of the shell is also particularly beautiful here. Dating jewellery with cameos is never easy. In this case, the gold framing helps, turning the cameo into a brooch. The original pin and the original safety clasp are typical of the period shortly after 1900, and we therefore date the brooch to this period. Worn, the brooch not only celebrates the joy of wine, but also - despite its subversive motif - demonstrates an interest in the culture of antiquity.

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Shell cameos with mythological motifs were created in Italy in the 19th century in particular for travelers on a Grand Tour. This so-called cavalier tour, which was intended to improve the education of travelers, led to the ancient buildings, the art collections of Rome and Naples and the early tourists brought small souvenirs from their journey across the Alps, which were intended to tell of the experiences of the Italian journey.

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Size & Details

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€ 980.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.

You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.

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