Antique Victorian 11k Yellow Gold Cameo Allegory of Day and Night Pendant Brooch

Two allegorical figures representing Day and Night appear in right-facing profile in a jugate composition, their overlapping portraits rising above an eagle with outstretched wings. The foreground figure of Day wears an elaborate diadem-like headpiece, with a flower nestled among her finely articulated curls, while a crescent moon crowns the figure of Night behind her. Their paired likenesses evoke the alternating cycle of light and darkness, a popular subject explored in nineteenth-century cameo carving. Smooth modeling of the faces and necks contrasts with the deeply incised hair and layered feathers of the eagle, whose broad wings extend across the lower composition. The pale relief stands against a warm orange-brown ground of the shell, giving definition to the closely arranged figures and their symbolic attributes. An 11k yellow gold surround follows the cameo’s oval outline, with engraved foliate scrolls and a fine beaded inner border complementing the flowing detail of the carving. The reverse carries a locking pin back and a hinged suspension bail, allowing the piece to be worn as either a brooch or pendant.

Weight: 12.9 Grams

Stone: 48 x 35mm Carved Shell Cameo

Measurements: 54 x 43 x 10mm

Metal: 11k Yellow Gold

Item #: BR-1963-073026-10