Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE; Western Europe, Neoclassical period, ca. 19th century CE. A wonderful pair of adornments featuring 2 popular animals of the Classical and Neoclassical periods: a Roman molded glass lion's head applique and a 19th-century European carnelian cameo of the head of a bird - perhaps a falcon or eagle. In the classical world, lions symbolized power, wealth, and might. They were famously featured in many ancient myths, perhaps the most famous being that of Hercules (Greek Herakles) slaying the Nemean lion for his first labor. The lion's fur was believed to be impenetrable to attacks since according to legend it was made of gold and its claws were far sharper than swords with the power to slice through armor. In the end, Hercules defeated the lion by strangling it and wore its skin. Lions were also favorite iconography for buildings, coins, statues, and appliques, as seen here. Size (glass): 1.3" W x 1.5" H (3.3 cm x 3.8 cm); (carnelian): 1.01" W x 1.24" H (2.6 cm x 3.1 cm)
Similar glass lion's head appliques can be found at the Corning Museum of Glass (59.1.157) and Museum of Fine Arts Houston (70.121 and 70.120).
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
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#175574
Condition
Glass head is a fragment from a larger composition; carnelian cameo is intact and very good. Both with light abrasions, and carnelian with vertical marking down center of obverse. Great preservation to details on each.