• Material: Sardonyx shell, 15k gold tested.
• Size: 2 3/8" by 2" excluding bail which is just over 1/8", cameo itself is 2 2/8" by 1 7/8".
• Date and Origin: Circa 1860 Italy.
• Conditions: Perfect.

Museum Quality cameo, superbly carved in high relief, a real three dimensional carving, depicting the Allegory of the Day and the Night, Eos and Selene, sisters of Elios and daughters of Iperion and Teia. All the particulars are perfectly rendered, and the relieved details make the cameo even more attractive and rare. Look at the high-relief carving, a true masterpiece for a subject which was very popular but at the same time rare to find so finely carved. Eos is the Goddess of the Day (and Dawn) and her sister Selene the Goddess of the Night (and Moon) , portrayed together to symbolize the Allegory of the Day and Night. Symbols of the Night as Moon and Star, the veiled head adorned with Opium Poppy Seeds (Latin Papaver somniferum), the Goddess taking a sleeping attitude with closed eyes and head down, the owl carrying poppy seeds are all shown, as the symbols of the Day, Flowers in her hair,  the Goddess taking a widely awake attitude with eyes open and head up, the genius of light carrying a torch and spreading flowers. The two Goddesses are just at two opposite sides, the Day, Eos, has open eyes looking at the light of the new day, her head is lifted up to look at the light of sun and her sweet expression seems to communicate good feelings and sensations for something of new which is coming. I can feel hope in her look, the hope that a new day can bring only positive things, as we all hope everyday. The Night, Selene, is instead sleeping, a deserved sleep which relaxes body and soul. Her face is sweet and relaxed, her head is down and her eyes are closed to welcome the dreams that night brings. Everything is masterly carved and detailed. This cameo is a real artwork. This is one of the most detailed cameos of the Day and Night that I have ever handled.
A very popular Victorian subject in a real museum quality cameos. This is an incredible work of art, very detailed cameo, carved by an artist. The magnificent but simple gold frame is very impressive, made in massive gold and is in as new condition.  A true artwork rare to find today. 
 
 
A bit of history:
 
Eos is a figure of Greek mythology. She is the Goddess of the Dawn. She is a beautiful and charitable Goddess. She is the daughter of Hyperion. Hyperion is also the father of Helios (the sun) and of Selene (the moon )Hyperion's name means "The one who precedes the Sun", and probably is related to his role like Helios' or Eos' father, the faint light that precedes the rising of the day. Eos has several sons, between them there is Memnone, killed from Achilles during the siege of Troy. From that day the Goddess of the Dawn inconsolably cries the loss of her son every morning and her tears form the dew. Homer calls her the "Goddess with the rosy fingers" for the effect that can be seen in the sky at dawn. Selene, Goddess of the Moon, daughter of Hyperion. her assignment is to bring the moonlight to the humans driving a cart drawn from oxen or from horses that runs after the solar one, in many representations. Generally described like a beautiful woman with pale face that wears long, flowing, white or silver robe and that has on her head a waxing moon and a torch in her hand. In the Greek-Roman mythology tradition the Moon, thanks to the mutability of its aspect that makes it unique between the stars, has been associated to three divinity and tied to three its "events". Full moon, New moon and Waxing moon. Life metaphor (full moon), death (new moon) rebirth (waxing moon). Since time immemorial these three lunar figures have represented the cycle of  life involving apparently heterogeneous phenomena  like the birth, the death, the fertility, the femininity, the immortality. Selene, (from Selas - Greek) means splendour.