Gems: Illustrious Characters, set of Victorian cameos depicting historical figures
Content Description
Derived from dealer description: This collection consists of twenty-four carved plaster Victorian cameos of notable ancient Greek and Italian historical figures, housed in a purpose-built presentation box titled Gems: Illustrious Characters, created in Great Britain between 1860 and 1880. The individual cameos measure approximately 2 x 1 inches, permanently mounted on a green velvet backdrop within the box. The box is bound in the style of a book measuring approximately 10 x 6 x 2 inches. Its cover features a marbled design, with the title on the spine in gilt lettering.
Both the front and back covers of the box open to reveal twelve cameos on either side, accompanied by two handwritten indexes which identify the historical figures represented, both with the heading “Illustrious Men.” Some of the individuals depicted include Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Dante Alighieri, Galileo Galilei, Aeschylus, Homer, and Julius Caesar.
Dates
- Creation: approximately 1860-1880
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is located at the George Peabody Library and may require scheduling a special appointment to access it. Contact Special Collections for more information. This collection is open for use.
Conditions Governing Use
Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.
Biographical / Historical
There is currently no biographical or historical information available on the creator.
Extent
0.17 Cubic Feet (1 flat box (11 x 9 x 3 inches))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection consists of carved plaster cameos of notable ancient Greek and Italian historical figures, housed in a purpose-built presentation box titled Gems: Illustrious Characters, created in Great Britain between 1860 and 1880. There is currently no biographical or historical information available on the creator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Voyager Press in October 2017 with support from the Lidz Family Endowment Fund for the Milton S. Eisenhower Library.
Processing Information
This collection was processed in December 2018 by Kristen Diehl.
Subject
- da Vinci, Leonardo, 1452-1519 (Person)
- Buonarroti, Michelangelo, 1475-1564 (Person)
- Alighieri, Dante, 1265-1321 (Person)
- Galilei, Galileo, 1564-1642 (Person)
- Aeschylus (Person)
- Homer (Person)
- Caesar, Julius (Person)
- Title
- Guide to Gems: Illustrious Characters, set of Victorian cameos depicting historical figures
- Author
- Kristen Diehl
- Date
- 2018 December
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA
specialcollections@lists.jhu.edu