Gold and agate Gryllos, Late 18th Century

Composed of a banded agate carved with three faces of a blackamoor, to a later  mount designed as two intertwined serpents, with ruby and diamond set eyes.

Cf: Vivienne Becker, ‘Antique and 20^th Century Jewellery’, London 1980, page 141 for an example of a carved blackamoor head, similar to the gryllos.

Agate showing typical light brown, white and dark brown banding. Two faces identical, one depicted wearing head scarf. Mount: late 19th Century, rubies dark purplish red with typical inclusions visible under magnification. Diamonds bright and lively. Carving catches serpent mount when revolving. In very good condition.
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A gryllos can be a creature that is part man, fantastical beast or similar to this example with a series of faces.  There are examples of gryllos cameo jewels in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and also The Royal Collection of Her Majesty the Queen.