Portraits in Miniature

Carved Carnelian and Cameos

Carved Gems

During my visits to museums filled with Roman artefacts, I have discovered many tiny carved gems and cameos. Their intricate carvings fascinate me. Here are some of the jewels that I have found.

Cameos and Intaglios. 1st - 3rd Centuries AD. Capitoline Museum, Rome
Roman Rings. 1st - 3rd Centuries AD. Archeological Park Xanten, Xanten Germany
Roman Ring. Carnelian and Gold. 1st - 3rd Centuries AD. Archeological Park Xanten, Xanten Germany
Roman Ring. Carnelian and Gold. 1st - 3rd Centuries AD. Archeological Park Xanten, Xanten Germany
Alexander Ring. Carnelian and Gold. 100 - 1 BC. Getty Villa, Malibu USA
Bust of Aurelian. Amethyst. AD 260 -280. Getty Villa, Malibu USA
Engraved Gem with a Discus Thrower. Carnelian. Etruscan, 400 - 300 BC. Getty Villa, Malibu

Cameos

As a child, I remember my mother cherishing her cameo jewellery. I never imagined that cameos had been popular 2000 years ago.

Portrait of Augustus wearing the axis of Minerva. Sardonyx. AD 14-20. British Museum, London UK
Livilla or Drusilla. Sardonyx. AD 37-41. British Museum, London UK
#7 Possibly Agrippina. Sardonyx. AD 30-40. #8 Agrippina. Sardonyx. AD 37-41. British Museum, London UK
#12 Young Nero. Sardonyx. AD 50-59. #13 Agrippina the Younger. Sardonyx. AD 57-59. #14 Nero. Sardonyx Sealstone. AD 64-68. British Museum, London UK
Claudius. Sardonyx. AD 41-50. British Museum, London UK
Two Members of Imperial Family as Jupiter Ammon and Juno or Isis. Sardonyx. AD 37-50. British Museum, London UK
Sardonyx Cameo. British Museum, London UK
Sardonyx Cameo. British Museum, London UK
Sardonyx Cameo. British Museum, London UK
Cameos and Intaglios. 1st - 3rd Centuries AD. Capitoline Museum, Rome Italy
Roman Cameo. 1st-3rd Century AD. Capitoline Museum, Rome Italy
Roman Cameo. 1st-3rd Century AD. Capitoline Museum, Rome Italy
Roman Cameo. 1st-3rd Century AD. Capitoline Museum, Rome Italy
Roman Cameo. Romisch-Germanisches Museum, Cologne Germany
Roman Carved Face. Romisch-Germanisches Museum, Cologne Germany
Roman Cameo. Archeological Park Xanten, Xanten Germany
Perseus Holding Medusa Head. Getty Villa, Malibu USA
Two Cupids Erecting a Military Trophy. Onyx and Gold. AD 1 - 100. Getty Villa, Malibu USA

Vases with Cameo Decoration

Cameo technique was also used in ancient vases to create elaborate decoration. Two excellent examples are the Portland Vase in the British Museum and the Blue Vase in the Naples Archaeological Museum.