Antique Glass Intaglio Pendant
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A large early 19th-century glass intaglio, cast from a celebrated Roman gem now in the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and set in an 18K gold pendant mount.The original is a red jasper intaglio of about AD 194, portraying the emperor Pescennius Niger. Governor of Syria, Niger was proclaimed emperor by his troops in 193 and defeated by Septimius Severus the following year, so portraits of him are rare. The gem was brought back from the Levant by the traveller Paul Lucas, who journeyed there between 1704 and 1708, and entered the collection of Louis XIV. It remains in the Cabinet des Médailles in Paris today.The laurel-crowned emperor is shown in profile, with short curling hair and a wavy beard. Above him a serpent, emblem of the healing god Asclepius, crosses the flame of an altar. The Greek inscription in front of his face reads, in translation: “To Asclepius, Iulius Sabinus, a seer, dedicated this stone for the health of the Emperor Caesar Gaius Pescennius Niger, the Just.”Glass casts like this were made for collectors from the 18th century onwards, letting them own faithful copies of famous gems held in royal cabinets. This one is coloured to imitate the jasper of the original; seen from the back, it shows swirling bands of brick red and deep brown. It sits in a later French 18K gold case.A bold, unusual pendant with a remarkable story: the portrait of an emperor who ruled for barely a year, copied from a gem once owned by the Sun King.The original red jasper intaglio can be seen in the final photo: Bibliothèque nationale de France, Cabinet des Médailles, inv. 58.2099 (© Serge Oboukhoff; © BnF-CNRS-Maison Archéologie & Ethnologie, René-Ginouvès).Details: Early 19th century; cast after a Roman red jasper intaglio of c. AD 194 (BnF, Cabinet des Médailles, inv. 58.2099); red glass paste imitating jasper; intaglio 3.5 x 2.5cm; later 18K gold mount with French owl mark; 12.76g. Please note, the pendant is sold by itself, not with a chain. If you would like an 18K vintage chain to accompany please contact us directly for options.Condition: Excellent. A fine surface crack to one side of the glass, which does not run across the width or affect stability.
A large early 19th-century glass intaglio, cast from a celebrated Roman gem now in the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and set in an 18K gold pendant mount.
The original is a red jasper intaglio of about AD 194, portraying the emperor Pescennius Niger. Governor of Syria, Niger was proclaimed emperor by his troops in 193 and defeated by Septimius Severus the following year, so portraits of him are rare. The gem was brought back from the Levant by the traveller Paul Lucas, who journeyed there between 1704 and 1708, and entered the collection of Louis XIV. It remains in the Cabinet des Médailles in Paris today.
The laurel-crowned emperor is shown in profile, with short curling hair and a wavy beard. Above him a serpent, emblem of the healing god Asclepius, crosses the flame of an altar. The Greek inscription in front of his face reads, in translation: “To Asclepius, Iulius Sabinus, a seer, dedicated this stone for the health of the Emperor Caesar Gaius Pescennius Niger, the Just.”
Glass casts like this were made for collectors from the 18th century onwards, letting them own faithful copies of famous gems held in royal cabinets. This one is coloured to imitate the jasper of the original; seen from the back, it shows swirling bands of brick red and deep brown. It sits in a later French 18K gold case.
A bold, unusual pendant with a remarkable story: the portrait of an emperor who ruled for barely a year, copied from a gem once owned by the Sun King.
The original red jasper intaglio can be seen in the final photo: Bibliothèque nationale de France, Cabinet des Médailles, inv. 58.2099 (© Serge Oboukhoff; © BnF-CNRS-Maison Archéologie & Ethnologie, René-Ginouvès).
Details: Early 19th century; cast after a Roman red jasper intaglio of c. AD 194 (BnF, Cabinet des Médailles, inv. 58.2099); red glass paste imitating jasper; intaglio 3.5 x 2.5cm; later 18K gold mount with French owl mark; 12.76g. Please note, the pendant is sold by itself, not with a chain. If you would like an 18K vintage chain to accompany please contact us directly for options.
Condition: Excellent. A fine surface crack to one side of the glass, which does not run across the width or affect stability.
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