Pair of 19th century gold mounted hardstone cameo earrings.

One cameo a gryllus, depicting Minerva, Zeus and a Saracen, all connected at the centre by a Ram's head, the other cameo (slightly larger) depicting Psyche.

A gryllus is a fanciful combination of heads, usually beast and human, carved as a single cameo. They were believed to protect the wearer from harm. The name is Latin for caricature.

Psyche is the goddess of the soul and wife of the god of love, Eros

The gold un-marked, English or Italian c.1830, posts and scrolls modern

approximately 25mm long

SOLD