Unknown artist

Neoclassical souvenir jewelry allowed tourists to demonstrate their appreciation for classical history and for Italy’s unsurpassed collections of ancient Roman statuary and artifacts. Designs inspired by recent archaeological discoveries at Pompeii were available in shell cameos, glass, porcelain, and most aptly, carved lava. More intricate carved cameos also copied famous contemporary works of art, such as The Three Graces Dancing, a design originally created in 1798 by Italian sculptor Antonio Canova as a painting and a bas-relief.