Serena Cameo in the Romantic Style Size Cameo Only: 1 - 9/16 x 1 -1/4 Including Bezel: 1 -15/16 x 1 - 5/8 Materials: Shell Cameo in a Bezel of 18K Yellow Gold Origin and Date: Paris, 1838 to 1847. An eagle’s head hallmark used by Parisian goldsmiths during these years is present on the back of the bezel. Condition: Mint. There are no surface flaws and no chips, veins or cracks. There is no wearing to the high points of the carving appreciable to the naked eye, although very light wearing to the hair is visible under x10 magnification. The frame is in excellent condition. Description This is an exceptionally appealing early example of a cameo in the Romantic Style. It is a left-facing profile bust of a young woman. The subject is not merely lovely, she also has an air of distinction and intelligence. The lady gazes serenely into the distance, hence the soubriquet “Serena” given to the piece by its present owner. She has a large, expressive eye under a delicately-arched eyebrow and a pretty, full-lipped mouth. Her chin is determined yet feminine and the slight curve to her nose suggests she may be English or Scandinavian. Her thick, wavy hair is worn in a loose upsweep with wispy tendrils escaping artfully from the chignon as plump curls fall onto the supple white column of her neck. Her left ear peeps out from under the hair. The clothing, attractive in its simplicity, is a softly draped tunic gathered into a deep pleat at the neckline. The lady before us is not a goddess copied from a painting or a Graeco Roman statue. She may be a depiction of idealised womanhood or could even be a portrait of a real woman. There is individuality in her features and a lifelike quality in her dreamy expression. This naturalism makes a pleasing change from the stylized, rather stern neoclassicism found on most of the French cameos from the period. Although the late 1840s is not particularly early in the history of the Romantic Movement, this piece is an early example of the Romantic style in cameo artisanry. Revolt against the conventions of classicism appears later in the history of cameo-carving than it does in other art forms of the 19th century. Its design is fresh, elegant and beautifully proportioned. The carving is excellent, the work of a master hand. The shell, of highest quality, is beautifully finished with a satiny surface. The yellow-gold bezel is superb and unusual. Its floral ornamentation was initially partially molded and then finished with hand-chiselling. The detail is extremely fine and detailed. The original c-clasp and pin are present on the back of the frame; there is no bale. This is a desirable cameo, expertly carved and beautifully mounted, with a retail value of $1,300.00. Appraisal copyright 2001 by Corrie Tapp