Italian, probably early 19th century

Arthur Richard Wellesley, Marquis of Douro, later 2nd Duke of Wellington (1807-1884);

by family descent until sold to S. J. Phillips Ltd, London, 1976

London, S. J. Phillips Ltd, The Wellington Gems, 8-17 June 1977, no. 452

The Wellington Gems, exh. cat. London, 1977, no. 452

This elegant and evocative pair of bracelets was formerly in the famous gem collection formed by the Marquis of Douro, who became the 2nd Duke of Wellington. The Wellington Gem Collection is typical of the scholarly collections amassed by aristocratic patrons in the 18th and 19th century, such as that formed by the 4th Duke of Marlborough. It included ancient Greek and Roman glyptics as well as modern gems by the most celebrated engravers active circa 1800, such as Luigi Pichler, William and Charles Brown, Edward Burch and Nathaniel Marchant.

The intaglios forming the present 'Etruscanising' bracelets are thus identified in the S. J. Phillips handbook whose contributors included the most distinguished living expert on modern engraved gems, Diana Scarisbrick:

'Bracelet 1...

1. A warrior, helmeted, shield on his arm, shakes his fist.
2. A man sits making a spear.
3. A warrior with his cloak on his arm, holding his spear.
4. A warrior falls from his horse.
5. A warrior holds his spear.
6. A satyr, thyrsus in hand, pours wine from a jug.
7. Satyr with thyrsus.
8. A faun drinks from a bowl.
9. Cornelian scarab. Intaglio. A sphinx.

Bracelet 2...

1. Nemesis with wheel.
2. Seated faun with thyrsus.
3. Warrior with shield.
4. A goat.
5. Achilles wounded.
6. A warrior, shield on his arm.
7. A warrior, shield on his arm, brandishes his sword.
8. A warrior with shield and spear.
9. A hero crouched behind his shield.'

The Wellington Gems, exh. cat. London, 1977, no. 452