Brooches

An antique gold set lava brooch

Features an intricately detailed cameo in high relief of a plump Cupid half reclining adorned with a basket of flowers and a quiver of arrows set in a simple gold frame with the gold pin fastened by a C catch.

Lava cameos from Italy were popular tourist purchases by travellers on the Grand Tour. They were bought both set and unset to be set later in Great Britain most commonly. Cameos in high relief were in vogue C 1860. The simple settings on these cameos which protected the edges were designed to allow the cameos to be unset easily and a more elaborate setting made later if desired. By time passing it is now that very simplicity in contrast to the complexity of the historic cameo which makes the elaborate cameo so pleasing to the modern eye.

See other pieces from our collections:
Antique Jewellery Collection