A late 18th/early 19th century onyx cameo brooch, by Morelli
Finely carved to depict the head of Bacchus, facing left, with a fruiting vine wreath in his hair and a lion's paw on his shoulder, mounted in yellow gold, signed Morelli, diameter 4.6cm
Sold for
£51,650
inc. premium
Footnotes
- Provenance
Gifted to the vendor's great-great-great aunt, Caroline Moore, by her godmother, Caroline Bonaparte, younger sister of Napoleon I.
Caroline Bonaparte (1782-1839) married one of Napoleon's generals, Joachim Murat, later King of Naples. After Murat's execution in 1815, Caroline took refuge in Trieste, taking the title Comtesse de Lipona. It was in Trieste that she knew the Moore family.
The signature on the cameo is probably for Nicolo Morelli (1771-1838), the Roman gem-engraver patronised by Napoleon I and the Bonaparte family. Similar cameos by Morelli may be seen in the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the British Museum in London.
Category: Jewellery
Auction terms and conditions
Contacts
Kristian Spofforth
Bonhams
Work
101 New Bond Street
London,
W1S 1SR
United Kingdom
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+44 207 468 8285
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