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Saint George and the Dragon Size: Cameo only: 1 9/16 x 1 1/4 inches Overall with Frame: 1 15/16 x 1 9/16 inches Materials: Shell cameo in a frame of gold-plated silver Date: The cameo was carved ca 1820. The frame is of 20th-century manufacture with a tube clasp; there is no pendant bale. Origin: Italy Condition: Mint. The cameo has been seldom handled. There is no cracking, chipping or other surface damage. There is no wear to the high points of the carving. The frame is undented and the clasp is in excellent working order. Description: Saint George the Dragon-Slayer is shown in left-facing profile. He wears armour, his helmet ornamented with a dragon. This adornment to his headgear is an accurate depiction of a medieval tradition of the 13th and 14th centuries in which knights sported figures of fantastic beasts atop their helmets. These figures, called crests, served as heraldic identifying devices in battle and were also incorporated into coats of arms. Here, Saint George has adopted a dragon as his crest in token of the battle in which he vanquished the beast. The helmet, in the style known as a casque, is beautifully modeled. It has a segmented neckguard called an aventail and a plated metal cheekguard. The helmet is decorated in repousseé work that features an embossed male face at the front and traceries of vines which swirl gracefully out to the back of the casque. Note the finely detailed design on the pushed-up visor. The saint wears body armour, his gorget, or throat protector, removed to reveal a long, beautifully-modelled manly throat. The ruffled edge of a chemisette is visible at the neckline and a few locks of wavy hair escape from under his aventail. |
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Saint George's face is a study in virile beauty. His nose is classically straight, the mouth firmly set, the chin resolute and his eye, under a well-delineated brow, is large and expressive. His expression is noble and steadfast. In legend, Saint George was a 4th-century knight who slew a dragon in a town in Libya to save the life of a maiden. The story is allegory: Christian virtue (George) overcomes paganism (the dragon) menacing Christian faith (the maiden.) Saint George is the patron saint of England and of its oldest chivalric brotherhood, the Order of the Garter. He is also the protector of soldiers. The design of this cameo is restrained and balanced. Its execution is masterly, the carving assured yet delicate. The fineness of the workmanship does not show up in the photograph, which is unfortunate because the finish on this piece is one of the finest that this appraiser has seen in 20 years. The surface, polished until it resembles fine Carrara marble, appears to have been carved with a diamond-tipped chisel, a technique more usually applied to onyx cameos. It is totally smooth in all its particulars, without the hint of a stylus or chisel mark anywhere to be seen, even under magnification. It is a cameo of exceptional technical and artistic merit, attractively framed, which will attract the interest of serious cameo collectors. It would sell at retail for $1,300.00 |