The Farnese Bull - Cameo Shell - Giovanni Sabbato

Carved from queen conch (lobatus gigas), our spectacular cameo offers a vision of the Farnese Bull - one of the most famous groups of Antiquity - of rare intensity. The protagonists, drawnin the vortex of the myth, emerge with sculptural vigor, revealing the richness of the shell's different strata, offering a natural contrast between the milky white of the upper layer and the amber tones of the background. The border, animated by a bird, flowers, scrolls and finely openwork and scrolls, emphasizing the "all-over" character of the work, a true demonstration of virtuosity in the great Neapolitan tradition.
By its breadth, narrative breath and dense relief, this cameo is attributable to Giovanni Sabbato, a major figure in cameo art, who between 1873 and 1883, a monumental allegory of the British Empire. Many of Sabbato's works are on display at the Museo Liverino in Torre del Greco near Naples (a museum dedicated to coral and cameo works), attesting to the artist's exceptional position in this art.
In conclusion, our carved shell, at the crossroads of the jeweler's arts and decorative goldsmithing, fully embodies the Italian cameo tradition and stands out as a collector's item that any collector of curiosities would dream of owning.

Dimensions: H 14 x W 10 x D 12 cm