Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels: Part I
Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels: Part I
GOLD AND HARDSTONE INTAGLIO BRACELET, CIRCA 1860
Lot Closed
June 24, 03:24 PM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 25,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
GOLD AND HARDSTONE INTAGLIO BRACELET, CIRCA 1860
Set with oval chalcedony intaglios carved with themes and motifs of Classical scenes and mythological subjects, length approximately 190mm.
Archaeological discoveries during the 19th century at sites such as Pompeii and Herculaneum inspired imitations of gold ornaments from antiquity. The Roman jewelers Castellani sought to achieve the techniques of gold granulation and metalwork developed by the ancient Etruscans. The Castellani shop in Rome became the destination for Grand Tourists seeking mementos of the past. Giacinto Melillo (1845-1915) joined Alessandro Castellani at his workshop in Naples as a teenager with his apprenticeship only partially completed. By 1870 he was managing the workshop on his own and continued to make jewels in the ”Archaeological style” similar to those in lot 149, often using ancient hardstone intaglios. He was awarded the Grand Prix and Legion d’Honneur at the Paris Exhibition in 1900. For an informative discussion see “Giacinto Melillo, A Pupil of the Castellani” by Geoffrey Munn, The Connoisseur, Sept. 20, 1977, pages 20-22.
To view Shipping Calculator, please click here
Archaeological discoveries during the 19th century at sites such as Pompeii and Herculaneum inspired imitations of gold ornaments from antiquity. Lot 149 is comparable in style to the Roman jeweller Castellani’s technique. He sought to achieve the techniques of gold granulation and metalwork developed by the ancient Etruscans. The Castellani shop in Rome became the destination for Grand Tourists seeking mementos of the past. Giacinto Melillo (1845-1915) joined Alessandro Castellani at his workshop in Naples as a teenager with his apprenticeship only partially completed. By 1870 he was managing the workshop on his own and continued to make jewels in the ”Archaeological style” similar to those in lot 149, often using ancient hardstone intaglios. He was awarded the Grand Prix and Legion d’Honneur at the Paris Exhibition in 1900. For an informative discussion see “Giacinto Melillo, A Pupil of the Castellani” by Geoffrey Munn, The Connoisseur, Sept. 20, 1977, pages 20-22.