Glass Paste Bust Of Pope Pius IX In Its Frame, Italy, 19th Century

Small oval cameo in white glass paste on a cobalt blue glass background, depicting the bust of Pope Pius IX (Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti, Supreme Pontiff from 1846 to 1878).
The pontiff is depicted in right-facing profile, in a neoclassical-inspired composition reminiscent of numismatic portraits and ancient cameos. The fine craftsmanship of the face, the strands of hair, and the richly ornamented papal cope attests to a high-quality piece, likely intended for private devotion or created as a commemorative souvenir of Pius IX’s long pontificate.
The medallion is preserved in its original gilded copper frame, stamped and chiseled with rocaille motifs and foliage scrolls, perfectly representative of the eclectic taste of the second half of the 19th century. The reverse retains its original mounting system. The set is presented on a blue velvet table top frame stand.
This type of work, inspired by the famous cameos made from shell and semi-precious stones, became widely popular during the pontificate of Pius IX. It was primarily produced in Roman workshops specializing in the manufacturing devotional objects and souvenirs for pilgrims.

Medallion dimensions: 5 × 4 cm. (with frame:10 × 8 cm.)