An intaglio is an intricate and highly skilled ancient engraving technique. It is when an image is incised or engraved into a range of materials such as hardstones, glass, gemstones and ceramics. Unlike a cameo, where the design rises above the surface, the image in an intaglio is cut into the material. Probably originating in Mesopotamia and Assyria, the technique spread to Ancient Greece and Egypt by the 8th - 7th Century BC.
Glyptics is the term used for carving into precious gemstones. It originates from the Greek word glyptos meaning sculpted.
The Purpose and Use of Intaglios
The most common uses of intaglios were as seal fobs or seal rings. They were originally used in place of a signature to sign documents or with sealing wax to close envelopes.
Later, intaglios became more fashionable than functional. They offered an easy way to bring back miniature works of art from exotic places around the world. They were a symbol of wealth, taste and social standing, as only the wealthy could afford to travel and collect them.
Designs often depicted gods and epic stories, as well as mythical animals and plants, making each intaglio a small yet meaningful piece of art.
Roman Intaglios and Their Significance
The Romans were very proud of their appearance. They loved to adorn themselves with gemstones, jewellery and other precious decorative items. Much of this has survived, providing us with a rich archive of what these ancient pieces were like.
The Romans often used Carnelian, an orange hardstone, in their jewellery. Carnelian was ideal for intaglio seals as the stone does not stick to hot wax.
For many high-ranking Romans, their seal ring was their signature. Some emperors and officials even destroyed their intaglios before they died to prevent anyone from counterfeiting their signature after their death.
Renaissance Revival
There was a revival of interest during the Renaissance, and intaglios were widely collected across Europe, with a new wave of gem-cutters creating both forgeries of earlier intaglios and re-interpretations of the earlier gems. Fabled collectors such as Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel and Catherine the Great of Russia helped popularize the technique, and many great collections were amassed, notably the Marlborough Gems collection assembled at Blenheim Palace by the 4th Duke of Marlborough in the late 18th and early 19th century and dispersed at auction in 1899.
Intaglios at Auction
We have a fantastic collection of hardstone intaglios coming up in our November Fine Jewellery auction.
One particularly interesting piece is a Roman ring with an agate intaglio depicting a charging bull attacking a rearing lion, with a Capricorn between them. It is said to represent the deified Julius Caesar (symbolised by the Taurus bull) and Octavian Augustus (whose symbol was the Capricorn) as Caesar’s successor and avenger through his triumph over Mark Antony (the lion) at Actium.
Many of these intaglios told stories of triumph and personal identity, making each piece not just a work of art but a meaningful symbol of the wearer’s life.
Roman banded agate astrological intaglio
Estimate £200 - £300
Valuations
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