Mastery of Design: An Intaglio of Mars, Seventeenth Century

Ingalio of Mars
Seventeenth Century
Agate, Diamonds, Silver Gilt, Pearls, Emeralds
The Royal Collection

First recorded in the Royal Collection—when found amongst a drawer-full of jewels at Windsor Castle—this intaglio of gray agate set in a lacey mount of silver-gilt, rose-cut diamonds, pearls and emeralds dates to the Seventeenth Century.

The intaglio shows a head of a bearded warrior (probably Mars)—depicted in profile to the left. He wears a necklace and a helmet which is adorned with a horse-drawn chariot. Another figure is also depicted—to the right of the profile. There, we see a small, full-length female figure who holds aloft a flowing piece of drapery.