Renaissance Shell Cameo of a Helmetted Warrior

Oval banded agate intaglio engraved with Eros riding a hippocampus through the waves and wielding a whip in his hand; set in a later gold ring with openwork shoulders. 4.57 grams, 25.29 mm overall, 17.36 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N 1/2, USA 6 3/4, Europe 14.35, Japan 13)



Acquired on the European art market. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13348-257957.

The term hippocampus originates in the Renaissance, from Julius Caesar Arantius. He originated the term from the Greek word for seahorse (hippos [‘horse’] and kampos [‘sea monster’]). Arantius published his description of the hippocampus in 1587, in the first chapter of his work titled De Humano Foetu Liber.

Modelled in the round female figure holding an inverted amphora with liquid flowing forth; mounted on a sturdy gold pin. 2.97 grams, 45 mm



Private collection, Europe. Acquired on the English art market.

Vibrant red carnelian intaglio skilfully carved with a bust of a mature man in three-quarter view, gazing right, wearing a wide-collared, buttoned tunic and a cap, long curly hair framing his bearded face with a deeply furrowed forehead; set in a gold frame with an amphora-like looped handle; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 11.72 grams, 33 mm



Acquired on the European art market.

Edward Burch (1730–1814) was a distinguished English gem engraver and miniaturist, celebrated for his intricate craftsmanship and artistic versatility. A founding member of the Royal Academy of Arts in 1768, Burch gained acclaim for his engraved gemstones, which often depicted classical and mythological themes, reflecting the neoclassical style of the Georgian era. His skill in miniature painting further demonstrated his artistic range and mastery of detail. Highly respected in his time, Burch’s works remain admired for their technical precision and elegance, preserving his legacy as a key figure in 18th-century British art. Inigo Jones (1573–1652) was a pioneering English architect who is widely regarded as the first significant figure to introduce the principles of Renaissance architecture to England. Influenced by his studies in Italy and the works of Andrea Palladio, Jones designed elegant structures characterised by classical symmetry, proportion, and restraint. His most famous works include the Banqueting House at Whitehall, the Queen’s House in Greenwich, and contributions to the layout of Covent Garden. Jones’s adoption of Palladian ideals marked a departure from the Gothic style that had dominated English architecture, laying the foundation for subsequent developments in the Classical tradition.