Pendant with thirteen cameos

early 17th cent.

French

Probably in the collection of Queen Caroline, assembled in its present form c.1720; documented in the Royal Collection before 1755

Gold openwork pendant with opaque white and middle-blue enamel foliate scrolls and two dragons on cornucopiae in opaque mauve, translucent green and opaque pale-blue émail en ronde bosse on either side of a central arched niche. The jewel is surmounted by a winged dragon in polychrome émail en ronde bosse with a black and white enamelled suspension loop.

Obverse: a central rectangular brown and white sardonyx cameo depicting Joseph and his brethren, surrounded by a frame of alternating opaque white and translucent red ‘petals’. Nine cameos in white and gold or translucent red enamel frames are arranged around the central stone ...