Engraved Gold bell pendant, probably by Castellani, circa 1880

A small gold bell had been found on Mount Esquiline in Rome in 1873 which bore an inscription that according to contemporary translation meant "I am submitted to the eyes." The bell was bought and sold several times and was in the the Castellani collection of antique jewelry by 1877 when it was exhibited in New York. The ancient bell has not been traced since 1884 when it was sold at the poshumous sale of Alessandro's effects in Paris. Several replicas are known that were presumably made by Castellani, including the one offered here. A small silver bell, also attributed to Castellani, appears in this collection, lot 43. The Mt. Esquiline bell is one of a number of jewels of dubious provenance that were models for archaeological pastiches made by 19th century revivalist jewellers.

A very similar bell pendant, listed as Italian, probably Rome, is found in the Hull-Grundy Gift to the British Museum. See  The Art of the Jeweller, Vol. I, pp. 153-154, no. 970 and Vol. II, p. 253, no. 970.