Jewellery, Watches, Antiquities and Objects of Vertu

A group of four cameo brooches, comprising a Victorian shell cameo depicting Hebe and Zeus, in a bloomed gold mount with applied wirework detail; a tiger’s eye quartz cameo of a beetle, collet set within a half pearl cluster surround; a shell cameo brooch depicting Hercules, in profile, collet set; and a further example in marcasite mount, first brooch length 50mm. £200-£300

Hebe was the ancient Greek goddess of youth. She served as the cupbearer for the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus, until she married the hero Hercules. She is depicted bearing a bowl and a jug, accompanied by Zeus, the king of the Gods, in the form of an eagle.

Heracles or Hercules, was a demi god and hero of Ancient Greek and Roman mythology. He had many adventures and undertook ‘Twelve Labours’. The first of these labours was to slay the Nemean Lion, and he is often identified in artworks by the lion pelt that he wears.