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BROOCH WITH CAMEO OF CATHERINE II AS MINERVA

Creator(s): Unknown (Engraver) , Maria Fedorovna (After) , Unknown (Jeweler)

On view in: Icon Room


About this object

Cameo depicts Catherine II in profile facing to the right. She is shown in the guise of the goddess Minerva, wearing a classical helmet with laurel leaves crowned with an image of the sphinx. The cameo appears to be in brown paste against a paste background colored to imitate jasper or agate. It is covered with glass and set within an oval frame of red gold laurel leaves. The frame is composed of an inner band of engraved laurel leaves in green gold between two twisted strands of yellow gold. This band is interrupted at top, bottom and sides by crossed bands of diamonds set in silver. The entire frame hangs from a silver crown set with diamonds of different sizes and qualities. At the top of the crown is a small Maltese cross in gold set with five diamonds. The loop at the back of the gold cross has been used to attach a horizontal piece probably of a later date to allow cameo to be worn as brooch. The horizontal piece appears to be on its side. Two crowns similar to the one below are placed on either side of the initial M, all in silver set with diamonds. Two tiny red stones, most likely garnets, are set in small ornamental bands extending from behind the letter M.

Object name:
BROOCH WITH CAMEO OF CATHERINE II AS MINERVA
Made from:
Diamonds -- paste -- gold -- silver -- glass -- garnets
Made in:
Russia
Date made:
after 1789
Size:
8.9 x 4.1 x 1 cm (3 1/2 x 1 5/8 x 3/8 in.)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:
11.207
Class:
GOLD
Signature marks:
MONOGRAM M
Credit line:
Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973