Antique Glass Intaglio Pendant
From the Journal
Intaglio Rings and Jewellery: A Collector's Guide
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A large 19th-century glass intaglio, cast to imitate red jasper and set in an 18K gold pendant mount, with a mysterious scene drawn from the “magical gems” of the Roman world.In the 18th and 19th centuries, collectors were captivated by ancient engraved gems. Workshops answered the demand with glass casts, moulded from celebrated stones and coloured to imitate the originals. They were far more affordable than the gems themselves, and they let collectors own and wear copies of masterpieces they might never see.This one draws on the Roman magical gems of the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Those stones were worn as amulets against illness and evil, and carried strange images and columns of Greek letters. Here a bearded, laurel-crowned man is shown in profile. Above him a hand grasps a serpent over an altar, and beside him runs a column of Greek letters, reversed so that they read correctly when pressed into wax.The glass has been made to look like jasper. Seen from the back, it shows swirling bands of brick red and deep brown, beautiful in their own right. It sits in a later French 18K gold case.A bold, unusual statement pendant, substantial and tactile in the hand.Details: 19th century; 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 19th-century glass intaglio, cast to imitate red jasper and set in an 18K gold pendant mount, with a mysterious scene drawn from the “magical gems” of the Roman world.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, collectors were captivated by ancient engraved gems. Workshops answered the demand with glass casts, moulded from celebrated stones and coloured to imitate the originals. They were far more affordable than the gems themselves, and they let collectors own and wear copies of masterpieces they might never see.
This one draws on the Roman magical gems of the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Those stones were worn as amulets against illness and evil, and carried strange images and columns of Greek letters. Here a bearded, laurel-crowned man is shown in profile. Above him a hand grasps a serpent over an altar, and beside him runs a column of Greek letters, reversed so that they read correctly when pressed into wax.
The glass has been made to look like jasper. Seen from the back, it shows swirling bands of brick red and deep brown, beautiful in their own right. It sits in a later French 18K gold case.
A bold, unusual statement pendant, substantial and tactile in the hand.
Details: 19th century; 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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