ENGRAVED GEMS, both intaglios and cameos, were a major art from in Classical Antiquity, and influenced art from the Renaissance through Neo-Classical Periods as the ancient examples were widely admired, with copies made after them and new gems carved inspired by them. Some of these later gems are so close to the ancient that there is uncertainty as to wether they are, or are just after the antique.  Back in the 18th and early 19th Century in Europe, when the mania for engraved gems was at its height, both were highly valued.  Contemporary gem carvings, cameo or intaglio portraits for example of leading people were as expensive as portraits painted by the great artists such as Reynolds or Sir Thomas Lawrence as examples.  This is unimaginable to us today, gems are barely regarded as art today, and being small, often escape notice. That attitude has been changing in the past few years as they begin to reclaim their place in the pantheon of artistic production.

Athlete with reins

Bulls head and bird