Description
Tassie’s series of wax impressions of “the choicest” ancient and modern carved gems were a requisite possession for princely collectors and gentlemen, whether for study or to demonstrate their cultural sophistication. This drawer comes from an oak cabinet (Walters 42.1449) containing hundreds of Tassie’s impressions; the cabinet might have been part of Tassie’s shop furniture. Impressions in wax or other materials help to show more clearly the image carved into a gem—an unusual instance where the copy is “better” than the original.
Parent Object
