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Genevra Kornbluth.
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Last updated
October 21, 2024

Historical Archive: Agate (variety of chalcedony)

When including black, agate is often termed onyx.
When including red and banded, it is sometimes termed sardonyx.
When banded in blue and black, it is termed niccolo agate.


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agate chess pieces and vessel, undated Byzantine or Islamic: Ambo of Henry II, Aachen cathedral. The ambo and cathedral have their own pages with more undated agate.
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Gonzaga cameo, agate: 2 rulers, 3rd c. BCE or 1st c. BCE/CE, Hermitage ГP-19076, which has its own page
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Ajax drags Cassandra from the Palladion, banded agate intaglio, 3rd-2nd c. BCE Etrusco-Italic, p.c., access courtesy of Hadrien Rambach
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Vienna Gonzaga cameo: Ptolemy II Philadelphus and Arsinoë II, agate, 278-69 BCE, setting with enamel 1575-1600, KHM IXa 81
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woman bathing at a fountain and column, banded agate intaglio, 2nd-1st c. BCE Italic, on Enger cross c.1100, KGM 88,635. The cross has its own page.
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Leda and the Swan, agate cameo, 1st c. BCE Alexandria, in later gold mount ГP-12692
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Minerva, 25-1 BCE, sardonyx, Florence MA 14841. For modern impression see Florence MA.
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Roman gems on Ste. Foi reliquary, Conques, which has its own page with more gems
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agate? undated Roman cameos on composite by Luigi Valadier 1785, Louvre MR 46, which has its own page
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Nereid riding hippocamp, sardonyx cameo, 1st c., Florence MA 14466
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Medici cameo: emperor with genius, sacrificing poss. to Hope, 1st-3rd c., sardonyx cameo in gilded metal, Florence MA 14443. This work has its own page.
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agate amphoriskos: Power of Love, Rome early-mid 1st c. CE, Hermitage ГP-12748. For oblique view see Hermitage.
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Mars, 2nd to 3rd c. niccolo agate intaglio on a Merovingian quatrefoil fibula from Kobern, RLM 3068. For fibula see RLM.
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Caracalla, onyx cameo, 3rd c., Hermitage ГP-12732
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Hercules urinating, 3rd or late 15th c., sardonyx cameo, Florence MA 14612
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gold pendant with Roman agate intaglio from Kirchheim am Ries grave 326, mid-7th c., WLM F 70/269 326 (22)
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Oedipus and the Sphinx, Roman niccolo agate intaglio on the Enger Reliquary, late 8th c., KGM
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satyr with grapes, Roman niccolo agate intaglio on the Enger Reliquary, late 8th c., KGM
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Roman cubic die, agate, BM 1772/3-11/221
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Augustus, banded agate, soon aft. 20 BCE: Lothar cross, c.985, AachenCT. The cross has its own page
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Gemma Augustea, banded agate cameo, 9/10-12 CE, KHM ANSA IXa 79. This work has its own page.
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Augustus (d. 14 CE) from Marlborough Collection, banded agate cameo, RGM 70.3
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Augustus (d. 14 CE) wearing the aegis of Minerva, with medieval diadem, 14-20 CE, banded agate cameo, BM 1867/5-7/484
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cameo empress, banded agate, 1st half of 1st c. CE, recut into an emperor, poss. in 11th c., on Enger cross c.1100, KGM 88,635. The cross has its own page.
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agate cameo of Emperor Tiberius, 14-37 CE; frame France or Italy, early 16th c.: gold, enamel, pearl. AIC 1992.297
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Jupiter with eagle (Camée de Chartres), c.25-50 CE sardonyx cameo in enameled gold 14th-c. mount reworked 1793, CdM Chab. 4. For detail see CdM.
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Emperor Claudius as Jupiter, agate cameo 41-54 CE; frame Italy, late 16th c.:gold, pearls, enamel. AIC 1991.375. For profile see AIC.
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Antoninus Pius (131-68), Roman or 15th c. niccolo agate profile laureate intaglio in 16th c. gold mount, CdM Chab. 2093. For reverse see CdM.
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Abraham and Isaac, Sasanian banded agate intaglio (3rd-7th c.), CdM Chab. 1330
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Valerian (253-60) captured by Shapur I (241-72), Sassanian sardonyx cameo, c. 260 CE, CdM Babelon 360
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Christogram, banded agate intaglio in gold with garnet, 4th c. or modern, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
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Roma seated with Victory, Roman niccolo agate intaglio c.330 CE, CdM Chab. 2071
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"Kaiserfibel," gold/onyx (layered chalcedony)/rock crystal/garnet/green glass, 5th c., HNM 122/1895.1.-N.70. The Szilágy Somlyó treasure has its own page with oblique view.
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Apostles with cross and Christ Emmanuel, banded agate intaglio, 6th c., Krakow (formerly Vienna). This object has its own page.
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lioness, banded agate intaglio in 6th-c. Byzantine gold ring, DO 58.34. For profile view see DO.
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Angels with cross (‘laus crucis’), agate cameo, 6th or 7th c., DO 47.21. For detail see DO.
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oval fibula with center cameo bird, agate and gold, 7th c. Italy?, DO 37.26
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chalice and doves, agate cameo, Italy 7th c.?, or Byzantine?, DO 48.19. For other views see DO.
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Norpertus seal, agate intaglio, late 9th-early 10th c., Florence MA 15060 (246). For another view and modern impression see Florence MA.
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agate cup: ostensorium made from several gemstone vessels, 13th c., Osnabrück diocesan museum
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agate cup: ostensorium made from several gemstone vessels, 13th c., Osnabrück diocesan museum
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Hercules and the Nemean lion with basilisk, banded agate cameo, 13th c., DO 62.38. For details see DO.
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Aurora (dawn), banded agate cameo, 13th c. S.Italy, Fitz. CG 752. This work has its own page.
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Christ crowned by Victories, sardonyx cameo, 13th-c. South Italy, Louvre MR 80/BJ 1878/OA 9513. For oblique view see Louvre.
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stag wounded by arrow, sardonyx cameo, 15th or 17th c., Florence MA 14584
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Ring of Jean sans Peur, Paris c.1410, Louvre OA 9524, which has its own page.
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cameo Christ: double-sided banded agate attrib. to Giovanni delle Corniole (aft. 1470–aft. 1516), in 17th c. enameled silver-gilt setting, p.c., access courtesy of Hadrien Rambach
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intaglio Annunciation: double-sided banded agate attrib. to Giovanni delle Corniole (aft. 1470–aft. 1516), in 17th c. enameled silver-gilt setting, p.c., access courtesy of Hadrien Rambach
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double-sided banded agate attrib. to Giovanni delle Corniole (aft. 1470–aft. 1516), in 17th c. enameled silver-gilt setting, p.c., access courtesy of Hadrien Rambach
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Crowned woman, prob. late 15th c., or Antonia Minor 1st c., sardonyx cameo, Florence MA 14553
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Iphigenia, Orestes, and Pylades in Tauris or Ulysses and Diomedes seizing Palladion, prob. c.1500-50, sardonyx cameo in 16th-c. gold and enamel mount, Florence MA 14468