Object Description
A very fine large fob seal in three colour gold, the upper part decorated with a pair of lion masks with rings in their mouths, the base chased with grapes and vines. All in crisp original condition with very little signs of wear.
The carnelian base engraved with an intaglio of Sappho, very finely executed with excellent polish and detail. Though unsigned the intaglio is of undeniable quality and valued by the owner to have had this wonderful mount made for it.
The carving is based on a bust of Sappho in the Vatican Museum Rome. Giovanni Pichler carved an amethyst intaglio of the subject for Lord Effingham. This intaglio was copied by Edward Burch at least three times, there are two examples in the Hermitage Museum and another in the British Museum. There were examples carved by William Brown, William Barnett and William Lane all published by James Tassie, none of these are as close to this example as the Edward Burch works. Nathaniel Marchant, Burch’s pupil carved a version whilst in Rome (unsigned) and another which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1797.
31 grams