Rare Antique Museum Quality Georgian Livia 18K Mourning Bracelet Signed Morelli

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Rarest Museum Quality Georgian Front Facing Livia Gold Mourning Bracelet / Brooch Morelli WorkshopCameo Material: Banded AgateBracelet and Components: Gold (Acid tests at 18k and 22k)Approximate Brooch Size: 2.01 inches (5.1 cm) Length by 1.73 inches (4.4 cm) WidthApproximate Cameo Size: 1.8 inches (4.6 cm) Length by 1.42 inches (3.6 cm) Width 0.67 inches (1.7 cm) Maximum Cameo DepthWeight: 43.1 grams (as a brooch), 52.1 grams (as a bracelet) 2.8 grams (brooch conversion piece)Please feel free to make me an offer and please check out my other Ebay items.Description:Cameo:This is an absolutely magnificent museum quality front-facing hardstone cameo of Livia Drusilla signed Morelli for the workshop of Nicola Morelli. It was carved in the workshop of one of the finest cameo carvers of the Georgian period, Nicola Morelli. Morelli was the pupil of Angelo Amastini and tutor to Benedetto Pistrucci. Morelli is probably most well known for producing cameos by commission to Napoleon Bonaparte as well as creating cameos for Castellani. He produced several portraits of the Bonaparte family.Although at first glance the cameo appears to be the Madonna, there is a laurel wreath between the hair and veil of the subject. For this reason I am identifying this depiction is Livia Drusilla rather than the Madonna. Livia Drusilla and several other Roman emperor's wives and daughters were often depicted with a veil. The figure is also depicted with her eyes closed.Morelli Workshop:Although auction houses do not routinely address this subject, there are three different Morelli cameo carvers identified in history: Nicola (1771-1838), his son Stanislao (1798-after 1844) and Gioacchino (born in Rome 1785) who was not related. The father and son Nicola and Stanislao worked together in a workshop and died within 6 years of each other. The third Gioacchino is not noted as being historically significant with any specific works of note. It is not specifically clear if Giocchino signed his work from historical records. In my research, I have identified one cameo with an apparent Giocchino signature which may be his work. If that is the case, he also produced cameos of very high quality./Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=271585Cameo production relied significantly on the work of apprentices and Nicola had several apprentices most notably Benedetto Pistrucci who started to apprentice at the Morelli workshop when he was 15. Benedetto Pistrucci quickly surpassed his teacher to become one of the most famous cameo carvers of the period later becoming the chief medalist at the mint in England as well as producing a number of his own magnificent cameos.Generally, at least a portion of almost all cameos produced, were carved by apprentices based upon their abilities with the more detailed aspects performed by the master carvers. Apprentices were most likely responsible for routine tasks, preparing blank hardstones by carving general features, as well as some finishing aspects like smoothing surfaces.It is possible that apprentices and other carvers in the workshop could have signed pieces on behalf of the master carvers. That would explain inconsistencies in Morelli signatures that I have noted below. Therefore due to these complex work relationships, I believe that it would be better to describe items based upon the workshop they were produced in rather than the owner of the workshop.Signature:Nicola Morelli attributed signatures include cameos inscribed with MORELLI, N.MORELLI, NIC.MORELLI, MOR∑LLI. The signature MORELLI on this particular cameo is the inscription most commonly utilized and several cameos directly attributed to Nicola Morelli via provenance and recordkeeping documenting their commission are identified with the MORELLI signature. Signatures with N.MORELLI AND NIC.MORELLI appear to be more frequently visible in cameos with earlier stylistic elements. The initials N. & NIC. that appear on earlier Morell... read more

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