Log in or Sign up
Antiques Board
Home
Forums
>
Antique Forums
>
Jewelry
>
Cameo question
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="Bronwen, post: 4478185, member: 5833"]Late to the party, but my 2 cents.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have an ongoing disagreement with a dear, dear friend, who is just as knowledgeable about cameos as I am, if not more, about whether this figure, who is seen regularly on some very nice Victorian cameos, is the male god Dionysus/Bacchus (her position) or one of his female followers, a maenad/bacchante (mine). It's pretty much a question of whether or not you see that bulge on the chest as a female breast or a man boob. Probably as a result of all that carousing, Dionysus is typically depicted as having a somewhat soft, effeminate appearance.</p><p><br /></p><p>Your figure is wreathed in grape vine - which has somehow become very eroded- carries a bunch of grapes & the pine cone-headed staff called a thyrsus, which is filleted (tied with a ribbon), is draped in a panther skin & a garland of ivy, all attributes connected with the wine god & his devotees.</p><p><br /></p><p>Apart from the degree of fullness of the chest, the main variation I see with this figure is in the garland. Yours is ivy. Some like this one by Michelini, are grape vine:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]388497[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Or with leaves & flowers:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]388498[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Whether or not a female figure with Dionysian attributes is his wife Ariadne is a bit of a toss up. Even museum curators & scholars in the field of engraved gems are not always sure whether it is she or a maenad, but the ones that get a firmer identification mainly look like this, wreathed in ivy, no thyrsus or panther skin, & a less ecstatic demeanor:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]388499[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I think it is possible your cameo is from earlier in the Victorian era than the setting that currently holds it. The name on the back, as you can make it out, does not ring any bells for known cameo cutters of the time. Suspect it is the name of an owner. If there is a better photo of the inscription among those that have been blocked, I might be able to say more if I could see it.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Bronwen, post: 4478185, member: 5833"]Late to the party, but my 2 cents. I have an ongoing disagreement with a dear, dear friend, who is just as knowledgeable about cameos as I am, if not more, about whether this figure, who is seen regularly on some very nice Victorian cameos, is the male god Dionysus/Bacchus (her position) or one of his female followers, a maenad/bacchante (mine). It's pretty much a question of whether or not you see that bulge on the chest as a female breast or a man boob. Probably as a result of all that carousing, Dionysus is typically depicted as having a somewhat soft, effeminate appearance. Your figure is wreathed in grape vine - which has somehow become very eroded- carries a bunch of grapes & the pine cone-headed staff called a thyrsus, which is filleted (tied with a ribbon), is draped in a panther skin & a garland of ivy, all attributes connected with the wine god & his devotees. Apart from the degree of fullness of the chest, the main variation I see with this figure is in the garland. Yours is ivy. Some like this one by Michelini, are grape vine: [ATTACH=full]388497[/ATTACH] Or with leaves & flowers: [ATTACH=full]388498[/ATTACH] Whether or not a female figure with Dionysian attributes is his wife Ariadne is a bit of a toss up. Even museum curators & scholars in the field of engraved gems are not always sure whether it is she or a maenad, but the ones that get a firmer identification mainly look like this, wreathed in ivy, no thyrsus or panther skin, & a less ecstatic demeanor: [ATTACH=full]388499[/ATTACH] I think it is possible your cameo is from earlier in the Victorian era than the setting that currently holds it. The name on the back, as you can make it out, does not ring any bells for known cameo cutters of the time. Suspect it is the name of an owner. If there is a better photo of the inscription among those that have been blocked, I might be able to say more if I could see it.[/QUOTE]
Your name or email address:
Do you already have an account?
No, create an account now.
Yes, my password is:
Forgot your password?
Stay logged in
Antiques Board
Home
Forums
>
Antique Forums
>
Jewelry
>
Cameo question
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Registered Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...