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Pendant: MAR.M.276-1912

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Cameo cutter: Unknown (Cameo)
Jeweller: Giuliano, Carlo (Frame)
Designer: Novissimo, Pasquale

Entities

Categories

Description

Second century Roman onyx cameo with white upper layer and dark lower layer, carved with a head of Medusa of Rondanini type. Shown frontally, the back left rough. Set by means of seven claws in an oval gold openwork frame enamelled black and white and alternately set with four pearls and four cobochon rubies. Suspended from the lower edge are a pearl, and an enamelled gold 'tassel' with a larger pearl at the end. At the top there is a ring and an enamelled gold loop for suspension.

Notes

History note: Unknown before testator

Legal notes

C.B. Marlay Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 8.2 cm
Width: 3.8 cm

Place(s) associated

  • London ⪼ Italy

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1912) by Marlay, Charles Brinsley

Dating

2nd Century#
19th Century
Circa 100 CE - 200 CE

Note

This pendant unites a second century Roman Imperial cameo of Medusa with a Renaissance Revival style mount, by Carlo Giuliano one of the leading jewellers who worked in both the Renaissance and Archeological Revival styles. The mount is typical of Renaissance Revival designs by Pasquale Novissimo (1844-1914), a jeweller who worked with Carlo Giuliano in London. However the cameo may be a later addition to the mount, perhaps replacing a large cabochon stone, which were more common. Founded by Carlo Giuliano, who was born in Naples and had trained in Castellani’s workshop, the successful family firm of Giuliano was praised for the spirited and varied nature of its historicist jewellery. Its best-known work was made under the direction of Carlo Giuliano, between 1860 and 1895.

School or Style

Renaissance Revival

Components of the work

Mount composed of gold ( enamelled) pearls rubies
Cameo composed of onyx Depth 0.9 cm Height 2.5 cm Width 2.6 cm

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: indistinct letters in oval

  • Text: CG
  • Location: Lower edge of the mount, on the inside
  • Type: Mark

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: MAR.M.276-1912
Primary reference Number: 119030
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 19 August 2021 Last processed: Friday 8 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Pendant" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/119030 Accessed: 2024-11-05 15:28:12

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/119030 |title=Pendant |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-05 15:28:12|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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