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1 of 253523 objects
Mercury Intaglio: 18th c.; Mount: 18th c.
Carnelian; open silver-gilt mount with wide collet setting and suspension loop | 3.1 x 2.3 x 0.6 cm (image) | RCIN 65833
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Intaglio of the head of Mercury, in profile to the left. He wears a cloak fastened with a brooch and has wings in his short curly hair. To the left is a caduceus. The stone is cracked and the mount fills an area of loss at the lower right.
There are nine similar carnelian intaglios from the same hand recorded in the 1830 Windsor inventory of jewels. All the pieces are after highly popular and frequently copied ancient prototypes. They are all similarly shaped and have identical late 18th century mounts.
The group may tentatively be attributed to Anton Pichler (1697-1779) or Carlo Costanzi (1703-81). Both were Roman gem-engravers of great repute; Costanzi was particularly famous for his copies after the antique - he is known to have engraved the head of Antinous several times - ‘and none better’ - according to one contemporary.
Text adapted from Ancient and Modern Gems and Jewels in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen, London, 2008Provenance
One of the '9 cornelian intaglios' listed at Windsor Castle in 1830 (WCIJ 1830 f.38). Probably first documented in the Royal Collection in 1830
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Medium and techniques
Carnelian; open silver-gilt mount with wide collet setting and suspension loop
Measurements
3.1 x 2.3 x 0.6 cm (image)
