a beautiful sardonyx cameo depicting the head of Apollo, his face rendered in a pure white striation of the stone, his hair in an orange layer, all backed in a rich reddish orange.
Mounted in an antique gold ring contemporary to the gem.
The gem is identical to cast number 2808 in James Tassie’s impressions of 1791 and is described by Erich Raspe as a “cameo head of Apollo Chrusocomos with diadem. A fine engraving.” It is noted to have belonged to a Mr Best.
It is also comparable to a sardonyx cameo head of Apollo in the collection of His Majesty King Charles III, which is attributed to the English gem engraver and Royal Academician Edward Burch (c.1730-1814). The type of stone used, as well as the treatment of the layers, bear strikingly similarities (RCIN 65183).
Ring size: L
Length of gem: 2.2cm
£8,750
