VICTORIAN Antique 9K ROSE GOLD GODDESS DIANA CAMEO Brooch PIN
Masterfully Carved Left Facing DIANA/ARTEMIS Cameo 1870

Lovely Miniature Antique Victorian Cameo of the Goddess Diana/Artemisc.1860-70

One of the finest carvings of Goddess Diana I have ever seen. Truly of museum quality. Lovely miniature VICTORIAN Sardonyx CAMEO OF the Greek GODDESS DIANA/Artemis (Goddess of hunting and childbirth). Diana is known as the moon goddess; a tiny cresent moon can be seen on top of her head. It is a superb carving with the finest attention to detail. It dates to c.1860-70. Diana (unique left-facing profile) wears a robe which sits langorously over her right shoulder. Each tendril of her wavy hair is realistically rendered. It is set into what appears to be, its original 9K Rose gold mount. It is in excellent condition; without chips, or cracks or hairlines. Also has what appears to be its original tube-hinge, c-clasp, & extended pin stem (with a slight bend), all in good working order. The carving is done in sardonyx hardstone or a very helmet shell variety. The cameo is miniature in size. A mere, .75" long x just over .75" wide

Diana was the hunting goddess, associated with wild animals and woodlands. She also later became a moon goddess, supplanting Luna, and was an emblem of chastity. Oak groves were especially sacred to her. She was praised in poetry for her strength, athletic grace, distinct beauty and hunting skill. In practice she made up a trinity with two other Roman deities: Egeria the water nymph, her servant and assistant midwife; and Virbius, the woodland god. In her etymology, "Diana" is simply :"the Goddess", with a Greek parallel in the name — though not the cult practice — of Dione at Dodona. She was goddess of fertility and quick to anger. ID=goddessdianabrooch