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Intaglio Jewelry :
Classical Revival Seal Rings : Classical Revival Carnelian Intaglio Three Putti
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Classical Revival Carnelian Intaglio Three Putti - FJ.6778
Origin: Europe
Circa: 18
th
Century AD
Medium: Carnelian-Gold
$3,900.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
This Gorgeous Seal Has Been Mounted in a
Modern 18 Karat Gold Ring
The art of glyptics, or carving on colored
precious stones, is probably one of the oldest
known to humanity. Intaglios, gems with an
incised design, were made as early as the fourth
and third millennia B.C. in Mesopotamia and the
Aegean Islands. The exhibit a virtuosity of
execution that suggests an old and stable
tradition rooted in the earliest centuries. The
tools required for carving gems were simple: a
wheel with a belt-drive and a set of drills.
Abrasives were necessary since the minerals
used were too hard for a metal edge. A special
difficulty of engraving intaglios, aside from their
miniature size, was that the master had to work
with a mirror-image in mind.
The Classical Revival was a phenomenon that
swept through Europe in the 18th and 19th
Centuries. A new appreciation for antiquity and
ancient art forms was fostered by discoveries in
the nascent scientific field of archaeology.
Perhaps the Classical Revival also reveals a latent
longing towards the Arcadian lifestyles of
yesterday abandoned as Europe became rapidly
industrialized and increasingly urbanized. On
this stunning intaglio, three putti (Italian for
“little boys”) play in a tree. Although this seal
imitates an ancient art form, putti did not
become popularized until the renaissance. One
might suspect this to be the god Cupid, due to
their almost indistinguishable physiques;
however, the presence of multiple figures lends
itself to the cherub attribution. Even so, the
symbolism of this scene remains an intriguing
mystery. Although the meaning of this intaglio is
shrouded, we can surely enjoy the remarkable
beauty of the gemstone itself and the technical
expertise of the artistry. Such a lovely ring is
worthy of being considered along with the
classics it emulates.
- (FJ.6778)
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