Conquer fears!

Antique lapel pin with shell cameo of child Hercules, around 1875

€ 590.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Unit price €590.00 / piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Antique lapel pin with shell cameo of child Hercules, around 1875

Description

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

There are many heroes in the myths of ancient Greece, but none is more famous than Hercules. As the son of Zeus and Alcmene. Zeus' actual wife, Hera, hated her rival's son so much that she sent out poisonous snakes to kill the newborn Hercules. But Hera had not reckoned with the special powers of the baby Hercules, for he strangled the two creepers with his bare hands.... On this lapel pin of the year around 1875 we see just this scene as a bas-relief in a shell in front of us. Hercules, depicted as a toddler, seems to be playing with the lifeless snake bodies and completely unconcerned he pulls one specimen into length, while another snake animal already lies slain on its back. The scene of the child, Hercules with the snakes is a classic theme of ancient pictorial art and has often been varied. A particularly beautiful version of the same motif can be found as a sculpture in the Capitoline Museums in Rome and as a wall fresco in the so-called "House of the Vettians" in Pompeii. Jewellery with cameos was particularly popular in the years of classicism and then again in the historicism of the late 19th century. That both sexes could wear jewellery of this medium is shown by the piece here, clearly made for a male wearer. The cameo, cut from shell, presumably in the Bay of Naples, is set in gilt silver. Probably brought over the Alps by a traveller, today it is perfect as a gift for a strong man, whom nothing can frighten - neither snakes nor other monsters, and if it does, Hercules is certainly a good companion!

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Shells with mythological motifs were created especially in the 19th century in Italy for travellers on a Grand Tour. This so-called cavalier tour, which was supposed to perfect the education of the travellers, led to the antique buildings, to the art collections of Rome and Naples and the early tourists brought small souvenirs from their journey across the Alps, which were supposed to tell of the experiences of the Italian journey.

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Size & Details

Conquer fears!

€ 590.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Unit price €590.00 / 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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