Renaissance hardstone cameo in an unusual rich tan and brown agate depicting a smiling youth, likely a follower of the cult of Bacchus, set in an 18th century dished Roman setting and bezel to a later 18ct heavy shank. Cameo c.1600.
Cameo 3/4 inch in length. Size 6.5 Weight 9.1 grams.
There is a strong resemblance in this cameo to Ancient models and it is highly likely that when this cameo was set in the 18th century it was believed to be Ancient Roman. The collectors and scholars of the c17th and c18th spawned widespread  glyptic fakery and this is very likely to be an example of such deliberate deception. It is important to realise that Renaissance Italy was awash with clever copies of Ancient sculpture and  engraved gems for the ethusiastic but gullible Grand Tourists.