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Medusa Cameo and Gold Pendant
Circa 1st Century AD
Description:
Elegant pale blue sardonyx cameo pendant with the
head of Medusa carved in high relief in the first layer of stone, ivory in
color. The image of Medusa is carefully carved with softly rendered eyes,
broad nose, full lips and round face. Small delicate wings rest atop the
crown of her head. Her face is framed by waves of windswept hair pushed
away from her face. The cameo is set into an ancient sheet gold setting pinched to
create a wavy ribbon border surrounding the Medusa's head. The gold is
wrapped around the blue stone at the back. The pendant has a sturdy
suspension loop enhanced with two vertical grooves at the top. The stone
is left rough at the back.
Height: 0.9 in. (2.5 cm)
Width: 0.6 in. (1.6 cm)
Thickness: 0.3 in. (1 cm)
Condition: Intact with crisp well preserved detail.
Provenance: Formerly in a private European collection. Also ex: Bochberg collection.man property.
Reference: See The Jewellery of Roman Britain (London 1996) by Catherine Johns, fig. 4.5 (also color plate no. 14) for a nearly identical cameo in a ring setting.
Background: The head of Medusa was perhaps the most popular design for Roman cameos throughout the Empire. The gorgon head was credited with the ability to turn enemies to stone.
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