Lava Cameo Brooch - Gemini / Twins

Lava has been a popular medium for cameos since the early 18th century. It reached a peak of popularity during the Victorian era. The eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79 provided an abundance of lava and during the Victorian Era Europe became the place to aquire these cameos.

L'Amour de Voyage...during this time wealthy families traveled throughout Europe on an extended vacation known as the epic Victorian 'Grand Tour'. Lava cameos became a status symbol providing the observer with proof that they had been fortunate enough to experienced this Grand Tour!

Hand carved into this gorgeous high relief lava cameo is the Zodiacal Sign of Gemini. Those born from May 22 to June 21 fall under the sign of the Twins, the most intensively inquisitive sign of the zodiac.

CONDITIONS AND MEASUREMENTS

Set in a low carat gold, this beautiful lava cameo dates to circa 1850. The details of this piece are amazing. When rotated under a light you can see the creases in their dresses to the almost single hairs around their faces. It measures 1 1/2" in length and is just under 1 1/4" wide. Including the frame (but not the clasp) it measures 1/2" thick. The closure is a simple c-clasp, common to its time period. There is a small nick out of the frame at around 9:00 o'clock on the front and a tiny little dot on the forearm of the girl on the left and an even smaller than tiny dot on the right neckline of the girl on the right.

ITEM # lava1 / 07C276

Cost $ 1395.00

 

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