Antique
jewelry and other fine antique items from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian
eras
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Victorian cameo brooch depicting of Psyche
Reference #: 9166
Status: sold
Dimensions: 1.5 inches by 1.75 inches or
4 cm by 4.9 cm
Condition: very good, no cracks, brooch is all original. Some minor wear to frame, as is appropriate with age. There is a tiny flaw in the shell on the white rim (at about the 2:00 position); see close up photo. Note: the black dot on one of the flowers is dust.
Year: 1850-70
Price: sold
Description: Beautiful shell cameo carving of the
legend of Psyche. In Greek, the word Psyche means
both soul and butterfly. Here, Psyche is shown as a
beautiful young woman with butterfly wings. The soul of
her beloved, Eros, hovers above her in the form of a butterfly.
The legend of Psyche is one of intrigue, jealousy and finally,
the triumph of love and the human soul. To read more
about Psyche and Eros,
click here.
This lovely Victorian cameo brooch is set in a pinchbeck frame
which is decorated with a Greek key motif. What is Pinchbeck? Pinchbeck is a gold
substitute developed in the 1700's by Christopher Pinchbeck, a
London clockmaker. Pinchbeck is a form of brass, an alloy of
copper and zinc mixed in proportions so that it closely
resembles gold in appearance.
To see other images of this item, please click on these
thumbnail photos:
