The Private Collection of a Gentleman

A hardstone cameo pendant, by Carlo Giuliano, the black and white agate cameo carved to depict the bust of a classical female á sinistra, set within a scrolled surround decorated with black and white enamel and accented with alternate pearls and millegrained collet set old brilliant-cut diamonds, to a black enamel and graduated diamond set tapered bale, mounted in yellow gold, mount bearing maker’s mark ‘C.G’, (hairline crack to cameo), cameo measures 37 x 28mm, total pendant length 62mm. £600-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Private Collection of a Gentleman.

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The Italian jeweller Carlo Giuliano (1831-1895) was a leading exponent in the Renaissance revival style in the second half of the 19th century. Goldsmith and jeweller, he was working in London from 1860. He started initially in Naples, working for Alessandro Castellani, and was sent to London to establish a branch of the Casa Castellani. He left Castellani’s employ in the early 1860s, establishing his own workshops in Frith Street, Soho, and retailing his jewels through established jewellers such as Robert Phillips, Hunt & Roskell and C F Hancock. In 1874, he opened his own retail premises at 115 Piccadilly, specialising in beautifully detailed enamel work, and unusual gemstones, inspired by the Renaissance style. The Frith Street workshops were retained until 1877 after which all production moved to the Piccadilly premises. Patronised by Queen Victoria, and a favourite of the Pre-Raphaelite artists and fashionable elite, the business proved successful. After Giuliano’s death in 1895, his two sons Carol and Arthur continued the business, under the new name of Carlo & Arthur Giuliano, still operating from Piccadilly, until 1912 when they moved to 48 Knightsbridge, although with the tragic suicide of Arthur in 1914, the shop finally closed its doors.