AN AGATE CAMEO DEPICTING HAYREDDIN BARBAROSSA, ITALY

The oval agate, carved in low relief depicting the bearded figure in profile, looking left, set within a later late 18th, early 19th century gold ring, dimensions of cameo 2 by 1.5 cm, ring size L½, cased.

PROVENANCE
Reputedly purchased by a previous owner from a noble family in Paris.
For a similar example of an important agate cameo depicting Barbarossa and dating to the 16th century, see Sotheby’s, London, 24 April 2012, lot 123.

The similar example sold through Sotheby’s, depicts the Turk in an almost identical manner to the cameo illustrated here, except that he is facing right and this example faces left. For example, the distinctive turban with twisted tie running over the top and tied in a knot at the base and trailing down his neck. The rest of the turban is white, as are his robes which highlight his dark skin and white beard and eyebrows, the individual hairs on his face each delineated. Both depictions feature the sitter’s distinctive hook nose and upward tilting chin.