An 18K gold and hardstone intaglio necklace, 19th century

Intaglio is a engraving technique where a motif is cut into a stone or gemstone, often used for seals or jewellery. The technique has been employed since antiquity but experienced a revival during the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in connection with the so-called Grand Tour travels. The Grand Tour was an educational journey undertaken by young aristocratic men in Europe during the 18th and early 19th centuries. The purpose was to study the art, architecture, and culture of antiquity, primarily in Italy and Greece. During these travels, it was common to collect ancient objects, including intaglio stones, which were highly valued as souvenirs and status symbols. In the 19th century, interest in classicism and the aesthetics of antiquity grew, leading to a new wave of intaglio production. Many stones from this period are newly made copies of ancient motifs, often crafted in glass or semi-precious stones. They were worn as jewellery or collected in boxes and meticulously catalogued. Intaglios thus became not only personal mementoes from travels but also part of the scholarly and artistic interest in antiquity.