Antique Oyster Shell Cameo Set in Gold with Natural Pearls, c. 1820 & c. 1890

The Nymph Galatea

Antique Oyster Shell Cameo Set in Gold with Natural Pearls, c. 1820 & c. 1890

€ 2,390.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Description

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

This brooch shows a rare depiction. In a detailed cut, the cameo made of oyster shell shows the youthful goddess Galatea gliding across the sea on a shell. A delicate robe arches like a velum over her figure, which stands out in white against the gray-blue background. Two dolphins appear to be pulling the seashell. Another sea creature in human form blows a horn and completes the mythological scene. The story of Galatea is about love and jealousy. The Cyclops Polyphemus persistently wooed the love of the beautiful nymph. However, when the daughter of the sea god Nereus fell in love with the young shepherd Akis, the jealous Polyphemus crushed the young man with a rock. Galatea turned Akis into a river in death. Galatea was repeatedly depicted in the Renaissance on a shell chariot above the waves of the sea. Raphael's fresco with the Triumph of Galathea is famous, cf. here in a reproduction engraving by Hendrick Goltzius. Less well known, however, is a depiction by Pierin del Vaga (1501-1547) in the collection of the Galleria Doria-Pamphilj in Rome. The depiction presented here in a brooch made of gold and pearls also shows Galatea in a shell chariot. The depiction is cut in oyster shell, a choice of material that is typical of cameos from the early 19th century. The elaborate setting was created later, in the last years of the 19th century. Jewelry made of warm gold, richly set with pearls, was very fashionable at the time, especially in Great Britain. Fittingly, we were also able to discover this unusually beautiful piece in the south of England.

Size & Details

The Nymph Galatea

€ 2,390.00 ^*

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.

Learn more

The Nymph Galatea

Brooches & Pins

Privacy settings