{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O106504"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O106504/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF1545/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF1545/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AF1545","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O106504/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O106504","accessionNumber":"1802-1869","objectType":"Cameo","titles":[{"title":"Camel head","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The art of engraving gemstones has been admired since the early days of the Roman Empire. It was revived in Europe during the Renaissance, and again in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cameos and intaglios were prized and collected, sometimes as symbols of power and mounted in jewelled settings, sometimes as small objects for private devotion or enjoyment. The subject of this cameo is probably linked to a family crest or motif.\n\nEngraved gemstones based on classical  models were widely produced and collected in Italy in the eighteenth  century. Many were brought back by British Grand Tourists, and important collections were formed.\n\nThis gem was part of the collection of the Reverend Chauncy Hare Townshend (1798-1868), who bequeathed his important collection to the South Kensington Museum in 1869. Although the gemstone collection is not as comprehensive as that found at the Natural History Museum, it is of particular historic interest as its formation pre-dates the development of many synthetic stones and artificial enhancements. All the stones were mounted as rings before they came to the Museum.  Some are held in the Sculpture Section, other more elaborately mounted ones in the Metalwork Section.\r\n\r\nAs well as being a clergyman, collector and dillettante, the Reverend Townshend wrote poetry. He met Robert Southey in 1815 and through him the Wordsworths, the Coleridges and John Clare. He was a friend of Charles Dickens and dedicatee of his novel 'Great Expectations'.","physicalDescription":"Vertical oval cameo. Translucent white over green moss agate. Depicts the head and neck of a camel facing right. Set in a gold ring.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gemstone","id":"AAT201964"},{"text":"microquartz","id":"x43759"},{"text":"moss agate","id":"x44309"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[{"text":"gem-engraving","id":"x41224"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Engraved gemstone set in gold ring","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Gemstones","id":"THES270329"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AF1545"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"032","id":"THES395777"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Cameo","id":""}],[{"text":"Ring","id":"x43339"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Italy","id":"x28927"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1670-1720","earliest":"1665-01-01","latest":"1720-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"19th century","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"altered","id":"AAT105442"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Townshend Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"17","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12.5","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This gem was part of the collection of the Reverend Chauncy Hare Townshend (1798-1868), who bequeathed his important collection to the South Kensington Museum in 1869. Although the gemstone collection is not as comprehensive as that found at the Natural History Museum, it is of particular historic interest as its formation pre-dates the development of many synthetic stones and artificial enhancements. All the stones were mounted as rings before they came to the Museum.  Some are held in the Sculpture Section, other more elaborately mounted ones in the Metalwork Section.\r\n\r\nAs well as being a clergyman, collector and dillettante, the Reverend Townshend wrote poetry. He met Robert Southey in 1815 and through him the Wordsworths, the Coleridges and John Clare. He was a friend of Charles Dickens and dedicatee of his novel 'Great Expectations'.","historicalContext":"Engraved gemstones based on classical models were widely produced and collected in Italy in the eighteenth century.  Many were brought back by British Grand Tourists, and important collections were formed.","briefDescription":"Cameo, oval moss agate of two strata, set in gold ring, depicting the head of a camel, Italy, possibly 1670-1720","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<font -u>List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington, Acquired During the Year 1869, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition.</font> London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., p. 126"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Machell Cox, E., <u>Victoria & Albert Museum Catalogue of Engraved Gems.</u> London, Typescript, 1935, Part 2, Section 2, p. 306"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>Room of Wonder 1: Axel Vervoordt</u>. Exhibition Catalogue, Antwerp, DIVA (Antwerp: Lannoo, 2018), p. 79, cat. 112"}],"production":"Ring ca. 1850-1900\n\nAttribution note: Translucent white over green moss agate. There are a number of small red granular inclusions within the moss agate layer, but the green mossy inclusions are not thought dense enough to qualify the material as bloodstone jasper.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"camels (animals)","id":"x30284"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1802-1869"],"accessionNumberNum":"1802","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1869,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2004-10-18","availableToBook":true}}