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Intaglio Jewelry :
Classical Revival Seal Rings : Classical Revival Carnelian Intaglio of a Bee
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Classical Revival Carnelian Intaglio of a Bee - FJ.6839
Origin: Europe
Circa: 18
th
Century AD
to 19
th
Century AD
Medium: Carnelian-Gold
Additional Information: 18 Karat White Gold Ring/f
$4,200.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
This Gorgeous Intaglio Has Been Set in a
Modern
18 Karat White 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. They 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.
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.
Engraved upon the polished surface of
this
precious gemstone is a depiction of a bee.
This
remarkable little creature is both a source
of
tremendous respect and fear. Despite
their
small size, they carry a painful sting that is
the
nightmare of many children. In some
cases, their
stings can produce fatal allergic reactions.
At
the same time these fascinating creatures
manufacture the sweet sticky nectar
called
honey. Mankind has long marveled at the
social
organization of the beehive where
thousands of
workers tirelessly serve and protect one
queen.
Created during the Classical Revival,
perhaps this
intaglio reflects a longing towards the
more
stable days of monarchies during these
revolutionary times.
- (FJ.6839)
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