Neoclassical "Bathing Venus" Intaglio Pendant
An unusual neoclassical pendant depicting Cupid offering his mother, Venus, a towel as she bathes her feet. Whoever carved it has been astonishingly clever: the slight cloudiness of the chalcedony gives the impression of steam, suggesting the pair are bathing in a steamy caldarium (room with a hot plunge bath).
The subject is reverse intaglio carved into a chalcedony oval, the very slight milkyness of the stone is contrasted with royal blue paint to bring out the Greco-Roman deities. It is a possible reference (with some elaboration) to Giambologna's 1597 bronze sculpture (although the theme of Venus bathing, often accompanied by Cupid, has been explored by many artists over the centuries). The intaglio is mounted in an 18 carat gold locket setting, circa 1870, with a convex rock crystal panel protecting the back.
Era: Victorian, circa 1870
Stones: Intaglio is chalcedony; back is rock crystal
Size: 4.8cm (including bail) by 2.3cm
Marks: None , tested as 18ct gold (bail tested as 15ct)
Condition: Great antique condition, light wear consistent with age including some scuffs to the rock crystal back
Full appraisal document provided with each item.
This includes a valuation for insurance purposes, item specifics, date, and origins (where applicable).
Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain).
Shipping
UPS Express shipping is free of charge on international orders over £300 and it's carbon offset
Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
US Shipments
Parcels going to the United States are currently subject to the Trump administration's 10% "reciprocal tariff". Until August 29th (2025), parcels under $800 remain tariff-free under the de minimis exemption.
We declare our parcels under HTS code 9706 (antique over 100 years old) which reduces import duties to zero. This means the 10% "reciprocal tariff" is all you should be charged by customs*. At this time, you are responsible for any taxes levied at the border.
US customs will require a SS# or business tax ID to clear parcels valued over $2500. UPS will request this information from you directly. More information about this can be found on the US Customs and Border Protection website.
* The tariff situation is being handled extremely erratically by the Trump administration, as such it's susceptible to change as short notice. We will keep the information on this page updated as best we can.
[last updated: August 23rd, 2025]
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£55 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
25% deposit taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved and often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff or scrape is quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
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