VICTORIAN ‘TASSIE’ PENDANT SPHYNX / OUROBOROS

A superb early Victorian ‘Tassie’ glass intaglio. With a lime green glow.

The intaglio depicts The Sphynx sitting with one paw upon the Wheel of fortune, which holds a grasshopper inside. 

This is an image of wisdom directing the vicissitudes (change) of fortune!

The Sphynx is surrounded by an ouroboros snake which symbolises infinity.

This image is from Ancient gems. The exact image and explanation can be found in the James Tassie archive ! See images. 

The intaglio has been set in a very simple 9ct gold setting, to allow the story of the piece to take centre stage.

Size approx: 2.2cm x 2.5cm ( incl bail)

Depth 0.5cm

A Tassie is a paste or glass copy of a cameo or intaglio.

Scottish gem engraver James Tassie created replicas of ancient engraved agates and gemstones and developed a formula for an opaque glass that could replicate various colors and patterns.