Pair of shell cameos depicting two mythological characters, Medusa (left) and Minerva (right), on black velvet in brass frame with scrolling decoration, flanked by two caryatids linked by foliate scrolls on lion paw feet. In brown velvet box. Tommaso Saulini (1793-1864) and Luigi Saulini (1819-1883) were outstanding cameo engravers of shells and hardstones, working in Rome. Tommaso Saulini began working in 1836 after studying in Rome with the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorwaldsen (1770-1844). Some works by him were commissioned by the British royal family. In 1860, Luigi Saulini came to London to engrave portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and was awarded a medal at the Universal Exhibition of the same year. Some of their cameos were based on sketches by Thorwaldsen and Joseph Gott (1786-1860); others were based on works by Antonio Canova (1755-1822). Other designs were original. As well as classical subjects, the Saulini workshop also produced portraits of members of aristocracy who had visited Rome as part of their Grand Tour.