This incredibly handsome pensive portrait of Zeus is impeccably carved from sardonyx shell in exquisite detail with clearly incised masculine features framed by his flowing curled hair and beard and crowned with a laurel wreath. The cameo is in a rose gold-filled bezel surrounded by a yellow woven gold-filled frame and retains its original c-hook and trombone clasp. [There are three stress fractures to the right of the profile. They do not penetrate the front of the shell. In addition to the photos visible by clicking on the top thumbnail which show the true color of the cameo and frame, the photos shown by clicking on the bottom thumbnail were taken with a light source directly on the reverse of the cameo to show just where the stress fractures are. The cameo is totally wearable as is.] Marked on reverse with the Roman numeral XII. I am unsure which century they may be referencing to since I think the cameo pre-dates 1912. width: 1-5/16", height: 1-5/8"