Antique Lava cameo brooch, 9ct gold, 19th century

A fine antique lava cameo brooch.

Dark carved lava stone portrait in high relief of a beautiful Greek maiden, a Bacchante.

Bacchante were female worshippers of the god Bacchus, practising female rites following the Union of Bacchus and Pan and holding secret ceremonies, where males were forbidden, these ceremonies were known as the Bacchic mysteries.

The cameo is inscribed on the reverse; Bacchante and is set into a smooth 9ct yellow gold mount, unmarked, tests as 9ct gold.

The brooch has a C type clasp fastener and the pin is a base metal protruding out slightly from the brooch, this is a replacement and soft solder can be seen where it has been replaced.

Mid 19th century, probably Italian.

Condition:
Good used condition overall with age commensurate wear, some nibbles to the cameo stone at the edges, replaced fastener.

Approx measurements:
0.95" width
1.15" length
Weighs 5.21 grams

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