Georgian John Milton Cameo Pin | Giovanni Dies | Shell Cameo Brooch, circa 1830

A Georgian cameo depicting John Milton circa 1830 proves to be an interesting find worthy of research. Milton was an intellectual and English poet and who served as a civil servant in the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell's watch. He's most famous for his epic poem Paradise Lost, as well as receiving world renown for advocating freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Mounted in a mixed metal pin is an oval shell cameo, carved to depict an Elizabethan gentleman believed to be John Milton, in profile and facing left, within a chased surround and convex dome backing. This is a small cameo that would have been found on a gentleman's shirt front worn as a lace pin. 

The cameo is thought to be an unsigned shell cameo carved by renowned and respected Rome Italy cameo carver Giovani Dies. Dies is recorded furnishing his cameos to Castellani on at least four occasions. Castellani both commissioned work and bought readymade pieces from a variety of contemporary (of that time) carvers. He also has a several unsigned cameos England's Victorian & Albert Museum that had provenience from heirs who has Giovani's signature on the folder's the cameos were stored in establishing that not all his cameos were signed. It is encased by an inner bezel that is mounted in a chased oval frame that has a closed solid backing which tests to be gold plated over base metal, that may be pinchbeck or similar alloy. The hand made early safety lever style clasp is a replacement that was installed in the early 1900's which tests 10k gold. There is a very light hand scratched series of numbers and letter on the back that are workshop marks 1.3.72.3 and then XX00. 

Ironically there is an exact duplicate cameo that can be found online by entering "Georgian John Milton Cameo Ring" in your browser. In that listing the cameo was described as a hardstone agate cameo...except it is not stone, its the same shell used as this one and I'm fairly confident the same cameo carver too. 

Measurements: 22.88mm in length by 18.30 wide. 

Condition: Good, with consideration of 200 years of age. The cameo does show signs of wear but still plenty of detail is present. 

Ships by: Ships in 1 to 3 days.