An Extremely Fine Carved Polychromed Oval ‘Comesso’ Cameo of Christ

Object Description

An Extremely Fine Carved Polychromed Oval ‘Comesso’ Cameo of Christ
Contained in an oval velvet lined leather box
Signed: Lament
Shell, mother-of-pearl, leather, velvet
France
Circa 1850

Size: 4.5cm high, 3.7cm wide – 1¾ ins high, 1½ ins wide

Object History

Provenance:
Ex Private collection

Object Literature

See:
For another cameo signed by Lament, contained in a Victorian gold frame, see: The Fitzwilliam Museum collection, accession number M.24-1984

Christ is shown with a contemplative downward gaze, wearing a crown of thorns. His left hand holds a staff, close to his chest. The word ‘comesso’, also referred to as Florentine ‘mosaic’, is the practice of piecing together cut sections of semi–precious stones, gems and, in this case, shell to form intricate and meticulously crafted works of art.

Object Details