19th Century Intaglio

A finely made 19th-century intaglio signed by John Tyrrell, associated with the famed Poniatowski gem collection dispersed through Christie’s in 1839. While once presented as ancient, the Poniatowski gems were later understood to be neoclassical works produced in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in the classical style. Following the sale, Tyrrell acquired a large portion of the collection and distributed impressions taken from the original gem models.

Signed along the side, it stands as both a collectible work of decorative art and a document of one of the most intriguing stories in gem-collecting history.

note: small chip as pictured