Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

A shell cameo brooch, circa 1830, the oval shell cameo carved to depict the profile of Hermes, the messenger god, wearing a winged helmet and with a butterfly on his shoulder, in a gold filligreework mount, together with an unmounted oval shell cameo, depicting the goddess Flora, wearing a floral headdress and a hardstone cameo brooch/pendant, depicting a female profile, within hoop mount with flowerhead and half pearl accents, to ribbon bow surmount, first brooch length 37mm. £150-200

Hermes (Mercury in the Roman pantheon) was the divine messenger of the gods; he protected mortal heroes and was known for his mischief. He also had the role of ‘Psychopompus’, accompanying the souls of the dead to Hades. The butterfly on his shoulder represents a soul.

See: Rowan, M., Nineteenth Century Cameos, Antique Collectors Club, 2004.