Rare Grand Tour intaglio 'Amore e Psiche' - Black Basalt / Vitreous Paste - 19th Century - Cylinder seal

Exclusive and rare oval intaglio seal from the 19th century, during the height of the Grand Tour.
The piece features a refined and sharp negative hand-engraved depiction of the iconic mythological scene of Cupid and Psyche. A female figure seated in a classical pose turns with grace toward a winged cherub leaning toward her.
The reverse presents a smooth, slightly domed and flared profile, characterized by the typical concentric lines of flow and pressure of the fluid material. This surface texture is the hallmark of the historical craftsmanship of the period, obtained by pressing the highly fired ceramic paste in the style of Black Basalt or the incandescent glass paste inside a hot metal mold. To the touch the material feels rigid, cold and emits a clear, crystalline sound.

HISTORICAL DATING AND CONTEXT

The artifact dates to the 19th century, between 1820 and 1870. In this era, classical archaeology and Greco-Roman myths experienced an extraordinary cultural renaissance. European aristocrats and intellectuals who undertook the Grand Tour in Italy and Europe purchased these matrices both as high-end souvenirs and as true everyday tools for their correspondence.

CURIOUS FACTS FOR COLLECTORS

• The invisible signature of authenticity: The wavy striations on the back are not defects or cracks, but impressions left by the pressure of the flowing paste in the hot mold during 19th-century manual work. They represent the definitive proof of the piece’s originality, distinguishing it from modern resin reproductions.
• The most beloved myth: The depiction of Cupid and Psyche, celebrated in Apuleius’s Golden Ass and made immortal by Antonio Canova around this period, was the quintessential symbol of the union between the human soul and divine love. Owning this subject in one’s Cabinet of Curiosities was a sign of deep culture and elegance.
• A format of high representational value: With a generous diameter of 2.7 centimeters, this gem was not born for a common finger ring. It was intended to form the base of an important desk seal in bronze or silver, or to be displayed within a prestigious private collection of glyptics.
• Era: 19th Century, circa 1820-1870
• Subject: Cupid and Psyche or neoclassical myth scene
• Material: Black basalt or opaque volcanic glass paste
• Diameter: 2.7 cm, generously sized for display on par with a 2 euro coin
• Weight: 6.2 grams
• Condition: Excellent antique condition. The object is structurally intact, without restorations and preserves its splendid original historic patina with minimal signs of age.
Provenance: Italian private collection.
Shipping: Tracked, with careful professional packaging and worldwide protection.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

• Item: Carved gem or seal matrix
• Number of objects: 1
• Style: Neoclassical or Grand Tour
• Period: 19th century
• Place of origin: Italy or United Kingdom
• Condition: Excellent, used with minor signs of age
• Dimensions: 27 × 27 mm