Pendant jewel with Apollo and Daphne

2nd half 16th cent.

English(?)

Joseph Smith, Venice; from whom pendant cameos acquired by George III in 1762; probably first documented in the Royal Collection in its present form in 1830

Obverse: a sard cameo representing a bearded male head, in profile to the right; with surrounding open scrollwork frame set with seven table-cut diamonds and two rubies and incorporating: to the left, a reclining figure of Cupid; to the right, Apollo with Cupid in flight above and a dragon flanked by two harpy terms below.

Reverse: central enamelled openwork plaque with full-length figures of Apollo and Daphne with surrounding scrollwork frame; the quivers on the reverse of the figures of Apollo and Cupid to the left and right and of Cupid above bear the inscriptions FEBUS, CUPID and CPID respectively; ...