Cameo with Amazonomachy Set in a Mount

This cameo depicts a warrior on the right, helmeted and draped. He holds a shield in his left hand and a collapsed Amazon by the hair in his right. The Amazon wears a short chiton with one breast bare. She reaches towards the warrior with her left hand and holds a pelta shield in her right. Behind the Amazon is a leaping horse.

Provenance

Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.

George Spencer, fourth Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, by 1817, by purchase [Marlborough no. 327]; George Spencer-Churchill, fifth Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, 1817, by bequest; George Spencer-Churchill, sixth Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, 1840, by bequest; John Spencer-Churchill, seventh Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, 1857, by bequest; Sale, The Marlborough Gems, Christie, Manson & Woods, London, 28 June 1875, p. 52, lot 327; David Bromilow, Bitteswell Hall, Leicestershire, ca. 1875, by purchase; Julia Bromilow Jary, Bitteswell Hall, Leicestershire, 1898, by bequest; Sale, The Marlborough Gems Purchased by the Late David Bromilow, esq., Christie, Manson & Woods, London, 26 June 1899, p. 60, lot 327; Charles Newton-Robinson, London, 1899, by purchase; Sale, The Collection of Engraved Gems, Camei, and Intagli Formed by Charles Newton-Robinson, Christie, Manson & Woods, London, 22 June 1909, p. 11, lot 32 [illust.]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1909, by purchase [Dikran Kelekian as agent]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.