Antique Victorian Carved Lava Cameos of Pomona, Goddess of Fruitful Abundance

These are, without a doubt, some of the finest cameos I have ever seen, and definitely the finest lava cameos I have ever come across. Carved out of tuff, a volcanic stone composed of compressed ash, these unbelievably beautiful cameos appear to represent the Roman goddess Pomona, goddess of fruitful abundance and orchards. Most likely carved in the Naples/Torre del Greco area between 1850 and 1870, their placid, serene faces and wonderfully detailed hair (adorned with fruit, topped with laurel leaves and wheat sheaves, and seemingly tied at the bottom with a bow) are an example of the highest quality carving to come out of this area during the Victorian era. These were likely intended as "Grand Tour" souvenir jewelry for the tourist market, with tuff/lava being a particularly popular material because of its association with Mount Vesuvius, and the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Along with the masterful carving, each earring hook has its tip intentionally shaped into a bud or acorn shape, a beautiful detail that is purely aesthetic, and would not have been seen by anyone but the wearer. 

These earrings are in perfect condition, which is rare for carved lava, which often shows damage after a century and a half. Each earring has a graceful, 14k rose gold hook, and evidence that there were once removable pendants/drops, which have, sadly, been lost to time. One earring shows signs of a repair, where a hook was stabilized with shellac. The use of shellac indicates that this is a fairly old repair, likely also 19th century. 

Each cameo measures 0.75" wide and 0.75" tall