Georgian 'Antinous' Coral Cameo Brooch
Carved from a single piece of vibrant red coral in a 15 carat yellow gold setting, this remarkable brooch depicts the wistful face of Antinous, his gentle expression cast of to the side, seemingly enraptured in tender thought. Little is known about Antinous' life, the Bythinian (present day Turkey) boy of humble farming stock with an apparent overwhelming, rare beauty, but in 123 CE he was introduced to the Roman Emperor Hadrian whilst he was touring the region and quickly became his favourite lover. As Hadrian continued to tour his Empire, Antinous remained steadfast by his side as the two shared a deep spiritual and romantic bond. His story is a tragic one however, as in 130 CE whilst sailing the Nile Antinous fell into the river and drowned. Hadrian was beside himself with grief at the death of his companion. He quickly proclaimed Antinous to be a deity and announced that a city named Antinoöpolis should be built on the site of his death in commemoration of him. He also identified a star in the sky between the Eagle and the Zodiac to be Antinous, and came to associate the rosy lotus that grew on the banks of the Nile as being the flower of him.
Antinous' legacy as a gay icon has long endured since the days of Hadrian's empire, the symbol of overbearing and undeniable love even in the face of tragedy. In times when homosexuality was forbidden, cameos and intaglios such as this were often worn as a covert, but still public, way to express one's queer identity. This brooch dates from the Georgian period, circa 1770, a time when oppressive 'moral' codes meant being openly gay was an often dangerous act.
The way that Hadrian took the boy on his travels, kept close to him at moments of spiritual, moral or physical exaltation, and, after his death, surrounded himself with his images, shows an obsessive craving for his presence, a mystical-religious need for his companionship.
- Excerpt from Royston Lambert's Beloved and God: The Story of Hadrian and Antinous
Era: Georgian, circa 1770
Size: 16.7mm by 19.8mm
Stone: Coral
Marks: None present, tested as 15ct gold
Condition: Good antique condition
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Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved, often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff/scrape are 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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