Cameo

Unknown

18th or 19th century

Banded agate, black and white

J. Paul Getty Museum

A carved cameo depicts a bust of a Black man with short, curly hair and a draped garment. The carving is set against a translucent, oval-shaped stone with marbled veining. Bust of a black African man with short curly hair wearing a cloak on his left shoulder fastened with a looped knot. The back of the gem is flat and polished. The banding of the agate has been utilized so that the figure is black against a white background.