Featured Cameos, intaglios and other tiny things

Hi all

These came bundled in with a lovely micro mosaic i bought. Probably all grand tour era?

1. white intaglio with unknown symbol
2. Black intaglio of a lion with antelope? head in front paw
3. Cameo of a Greek? gent.
4. Coral rose cameo
5. Coral fly carving
6. Turquoise/eilat/malachite scrarab cameo
7. Micromosaic bird

 

Think the lion is ripping up a bull. The white chalcedony piece just looks like scroll work to me. I can't see it as a monogram, but chances are probably better than even that I am wrong about that. The fly might be a bee. It's conceivable the round one is meant to be Socrates, or another philosopher. This one might have some serious age on it, very hard to be sure.

 

I'd be thinking Grand Tour souvenirs too, or some such. I think the fly is a cicada.

 

I'm in the bee camp. Historic symbol of royalty and magic.
Are you sure it is coral?

 

I like them all. What a nice pocket collection. I like the bird, lion and fly the best.

 

Not for certain, i just assumed. What else do you think it could bee?

 

If it is cold to the touch, like stone, it could be carnelian. If it isn't as cold, maybe Bakelite or a similar material.

 

Was trying to find this thread again & used 'scarab' as the search term. This is why I couldn't find it:

Wanted to tack on this photo, from the cameo show & tell thread, years ago: