Cameo of the jugate heads of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, in profile to the left, with the Queen in front of the Prince. Silver-gilt mount with frame of small diamonds encircled by twenty-one large brilliants; surmounted by a royal crown studded with tiny diamonds, rubies and emeralds with red enamel cap. Diamond-set suspension loop. Cameo signed to the right of the Queen’s head: T. SAULINI F., for Tommaso Saulini, 1793-1864, the Roman gem-engraver.

Through John Gibson (1790-1866), the English sculptor living in Rome, Saulini received frequent commissions for cameos from Queen Victoria in the years 1854-60. The double portrait of the queen and her consort is based on the 1851 Great Exhibition medal designed by William Wyon. Saulini has adapted the Wyon template to suit his material and the oval format of the cameo, compressing Victoria's hair, which resembles that of C. D. Rauch's Victory (RCIN 41615), and narrowing the heads to fit the smaller width of the ground.

The cameo was set by Garrard's, the royal jeweller, around 1864 in a neo-Tudor setting. This is typical of the mid-century fashion for historical jewellery.

Queen Victoria presented this badge of the Order's First Class, to Princess Alexandra of Denmark on her appointment to the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert on the day before her wedding to Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, 9 March 1863. The Princess subsequently wore it on her wedding dress.

Cameo signed to the right of the Queen's head: T. SAULINI F.

Text adapted from Ancient and Modern Gems and Jewels in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen, London, 2008