Intaglio in jewellery
Intaglio in jewellery is a design engraved or cut below the surface of a gem, glass paste or another hard material. The recessed image can produce a raised impression in wax or clay, so many intaglios served as seals.
Design and setting
Portraits, figures, symbols and inscriptions occur. The engraved stone may be mounted in a ring, pendant or separate seal. A setting can be younger than the gem, and the gem may have been reset several times.
Confusions
Intaglio differs from cameo, where the design is in raised relief. An impression may make a worn subject easier to read, but should only be made by a safe method. Examine material, cutting traces, direction of the motif, setting and documented provenance. An antique style alone does not prove age.
Sources: Store norske leksikon, Kamé; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cameo Appearances.
