Zeus, king of the gods, king of our hearts, the virile, curly haired and curly beard’ed figure is here presented with a lighting bolt at his shoulder in the classical manner of a 19th century female fantasy. Zeus is typically rendered in full figure to exemplify his power through his strong physique, but this cameo showcasing him in profile with a crown of leaves and symbols of his divinity, his identity, frames this piece within the female gaze.

The early 19th century saw a newfound fascination in neoclassical revival, spurred The Louvre opening its doors to the public in 1793, with just over 500 paintings on view. The collection expanded by Napoleon and the following crops of leaders leading cultural campaigns, more and more collections were made available for public consumption. The sculpture wing of the museum was specifically curated to aid in the development of the French decorative arts in the 19th c focusing on classical statues and allegorical figures, and this fabulous cameo, presented in a ruffled frame, is wonderfully rendered and possibly informed by the Louvre collection. This cameo is superb and one of the best examples we’ve seen of this genre of jewel.

Age/origin: English, C. 1860

Materials: 15ct, shell 

Size: 5.5mm, 16g

Condition: Overall excellent historical condition.

Please view and inspect any photos closely. We endeavor to fully disclose all condition information clearly and concisely, however, please note that what qualifies as excellent condition for historical jewelry differs from modern and contemporary pieces; please take the age of the piece into account when examining the piece. Minor age wear is typical and to be expected for antique and vintage jewelry. Unless otherwise stated, gemstones have not been officially graded for color, clarity, or treatment by GIA; any information provided is our own educated, professional assessment.