Castellani & Giuliano: The Judith H. Siegel Collection

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Lot 17
  • 17

Archaeological-revival gold and hardstone cameo brooch, Castellani, circa 1880

Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 USD
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Description

  • Castellani
The rose and cream-colored agate cameo carved in high relief with the profile of Dionysus, mounted in gold as a bar brooch decorated with reeding and wirework, cameo signed A. Mastini, mounting signed with interlaced C's. 

Provenance

Sotheby's New York, December 11, 1992, lot 15.

Exhibited

The Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry, Villa Giulia, Rome, November 2005-February 2006.

Catalogue Note

The unusually fine cameo in this brooch was carved by Amastini, circa 1820. The attractive pinkish hue of the stone serves to heighten the grape vine garland that is worn in the young god's hair while an inclusion in the stone is transformed into the clasp of his tunic. 

The signature A. Mastini has been tentatively ascribed to Angelo Amastini (1754 -1815) who was born in Fossombrone and worked as a gem engraver in Rome. Although there are several variations of the signature, including A-Mastini, Amastini and simply Mastini, there is no record of a gem engraver named  'Mastini'. The versions of the signature accompanied by the initlal 'N' may be ascribed to Niccolo, Angelo's son. See the catalogue The Art of the Jeweller, the Hull Grundy Gift to the British Museum, Vol. I, p. 131, no. 870 and  Vol. II, p. 218, no. 870.