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Victorian High Relief Carved Lava Cameo Brooch This is a stunning piece of 19th-century history. This antique Victorian era cameo features a beautifully hand-carved, high-relief portrait depicting a classical Bacchante (a female follower or priestess of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, festivity, and fertility). She is instantly recognizable by the intricate grape clusters and vine leaves masterfully woven through her wavy hair and draped across her shoulder.
The cameo is finely carved from a soft, taupe/gray-toned material typical of mid-to-late 19th-century Italian Grand Tour souvenirs carved from volcanic lava stone. It is housed in a beautifully detailed, ornate gold-filled frame featuring elegant wire-work loops on the sides.
Condition Report:
• Cameo Carving: Shows excellent depth and crisp detail. Please note there is a tiny, minor chip to the very tip of her nose, which is common for authentic antique lava cameos due to the soft nature of the stone.
• Frame & Hardware: The gold-filled frame is intact with lovely color and minimal age-appropriate surface wear. The pin mechanism on the reverse functions as it should. You can polish the gold fill frame with a jewelry cloth, or keep her as is.
The brooch is 2” high by 1.5” wide. The cameo frame is unmarked but it is at least Gold filled, could be more, but I do not test Victorian by scratching it for an acid test.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to send me a message. Thank you!
