Museum Quality George Washington Cameo Brooch Signed Georg Weißmüller Antique

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Museum Quality George Washington Cameo Brooch Signed Georg Weißmüller Antique:
$3975.00

Museum Quality George Washington Cameo 10K Brooch Signed GeorgWeißmüller

Brooch Material: Acid Tested 10K gold (including pin) - Tested weak at 14K somay be 12K

ApproximateTotal Size: 2.36 inches (6.0 cm) Length, 1.85 inches (4.7 cm) Width

ApproximateCameo Size: 2.16 inches (5.5 cm) Length by 1.77 inches (4.5 cm) Width

Weight:16.6 grams

Please feel free to make me an offerand please check out my other items.

This is a perfectdepiction of one of the most important statesmen in American History producedin the first half of the 19th century by Georg Joseph Weißmüller (1811 – 1851). The cameo isa wonderful orange color with some parts at the bottom and left changing topeach. Some of George Washington’s hair is colored orange as well, technicallyproviding the cameo with a third, while limited, layer of color. This wonderful cameo should truly be in amuseum.

The cameo is based upon an original sculpture byJean Antoine Houdon one of the most iconic depictions of George Washington. Thesculpture was based on a life mask taken of George Washington by Houdon in Mount Vernon.

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As you can see the cameo is a perfect depiction ofthe subject who was the leader of the Continental Army, 1stPresident of the United States, and one of America’s Richest Men. GeorgeWashington’s estate was in fact he largest of any president in history atapproximately 0.5 billion in today’s dollars.

The approximate cameo size is 2.16 inches (5.5 cm) Length by 1.77 inches (4.5cm) Width.

Cameo Carver

This cameo was carved by Georg JosephWeißmüller. I have not found a significant amount of information regarding Weißmüller.It is quite clear that was a cameo engraver working at the highest level ofexpertise in shell carving and compares promisingly with several other famous cameo carvers. Weißmüller was born in 1811 and died in1851. He was born in Bruchweiler, Prussia and had a cameo engraving studio inParis.

From whatI can gather, several artists from Germany went to Paris to learn cameoengraving at the behest of Philipp Falz, a gemstone merchant from IdarOberstein. Weißmüller was one of the first of these artists to come andhad two notable apprentices, Paul Victor Lebas and Charles Wild. Many of theGerman cameo engravers / gem carvers that went to Paris at the behest ofPhilipp Falz later went to work in the Birkenfeld district in Idar Oberstein when they were forced to return during the Franco-Prussian war. Some of these individuals also came to acclaim elsewhere. The Birkenfeld district became famous as an enclave of cameo carvers with many workshops producing large volumes of cameos as well as schools for cameo artists. Another notable sculptor / engraver who came fromthis region was Wilhelm Schmidt. It appears thatWeißmüllerdied rather young and did not return to Germany like many of his compatriots.

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Comparison:

After some research I found aboutthree fine or museum quality George Washington cameo depictions online. There may bemore, but those are the ones that I could identify. Two of these cameos are inmuseums. Please feel free to compare the pieces, I have provided an image for that purpose. I would say that thequality of the carvings are quite similar to this one.

One produced by AugustusSaint-Gaudens is located at the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in CornishNH.

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The other is located in theMetropolitan Museum, it was engraved in onyx by George Bissinger

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The last cameo was most recently sold at Heritagesales is based upon a different depiction and was slightly damaged.

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Brooch:

I tested thebrooch multiple times with acid at different locations. The brooch tests at 10Kand fades a bit at 14K. For the purposes of the I would go with 10K, butit may be 12K. The pin also tests at 10K.

The brooch has aninteresting pattern. At moments it looks like a fleur de lis and at othermoments it looks like a bat or bird.

The approximate total size of the brooch is2.36 inches (6.0 cm) Length, 1.85inches (4.7 cm) Width.I did not remove the cameo from the brooch to weigh itseparately. Together they weigh 16.6 grams.

Payment should be made via Paypalwithin 7 days of the sale. I only accept Paypal payments.Shipping:

USA:

I will ship the item within 3 daysof payment. I will cover insurance and shipping fees which are approximately $35.00.I will ship via first class mail USPS with insurance on the item.

Please Message me if you needadditional information.