Antique Victorian Cameo Brooch of Jupiter

Jupiter, literally ‘Sky-Father’ was the King of all Gods, In the myths of the Romans he was the supreme god who ruled all of Heaven and Earth. He loomed large in all of Roman life and, similarly to the Christian God of today, he was a daily part of the life of most Romans. In Ancient Rome Emperors wore Laurel Wreaths, made from the branches and leaves of the Bay Laurel (I bet they smelled lovely!). This wonderful Italian carving features the God Jupiter, wreathed in laurel, with his signature flowing hair and full beard. In the Victorian era, when a young person of means went on a ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe, they would often bring back iconic things from iconic places, things like linens from France, and hand carved cameos from Italy. Often micro-mosaic panels and cameos were brought back to England and then set into custom jewelry by English makers.Here is such a peace, a wonderfully skilled carving of Jupiter in profile. The lovely, colored shell is carved to show its orange blush of col