Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

A 19th century gold mounted oval shell cameo brooch, carved to depict Hebe and the eagle, within a border of engraved scrollwork and interlocking hoops, width 5.6cm. £400-600

Hebe, the goddess of Youth, and the personification of eternal beauty, was the daughter of Zeus and Hera, her role being cupbearer to the gods. She is depicted here serving nectar to Zeus from a bowl, with a ewer beside her, Zeus being disguised as an eagle.