Victorian gold stickpin representing a Bonapartic general

Another antique jewelry riddle we have here. We think that this man could be a French general in the Bonapartic era. But we have no clue which general it could be. We have been looking in the direction of Auguste de Marmont and Guy-Victor_Duperré but couldn't find any resemblance with our stickpin general. The cross our general is wearing here has four arms while the normal French order has five. Also the sash and epaulets could be of important indication. Or does the haircut style indicates a British officer instead of a French one?

Any help or information you might have that helps us in determining this person, is much appreciated.

Antique jewelry object group: stickpin

Condition: excellent condition
  -  (more info on our condition scale)

Country of origin: Although it does not carry any legible control marks we believe this to be of French origin.

Style: Empire (Pre-Victorian)
  -  See also: Pre-Victorian or more info on styles

Style specifics: Empire circa 1795-1815 - A style that borrowed style specifics from the ancient Greeks and the Roman empire (hence the name of the style: Empire). The empire period represents the second part of the Neo-Classical style, and shows a strong French influence. The style originated in the desire of Napoleon to revive the luxurious majesty of imperial Rome. Traditional classical motifs, already seen in the reign of Louis XVI, were supplemented by symbols of imperial grandeur- the emperor's monogram and his emblem, the bee; representations of military trophies; and after the successful campaigns in Egypt, Egyptian motifs. If we had to characterize this style briefly, we could focus on two elementary concepts: massiveness and symmetry.

Period: ca. 1820
  -  (events and facts in 1820)

Material: 18K yellow gold
  -  (more info on precious metals)

Technique: Cameo is a method of carving, or an item of jewellery or vessel made in this manner. It features a raised (positive) relief image. There are three main materials for Cameo carving; Shells or Agate (called a Hardstone cameo), and glass. Cameos can be produced by setting a carved relief, such as a portrait, onto a background of a contrasting colour. This is called an assembled cameo. Alternately, a cameo can be carved directly out of a material with integral layers or banding, such as (banded) agate or layered glass, where different layers have different colours. Sometimes dyes are used to enhance these colours. Cameos are often worn as jewellery. Stone cameos of great artistry were made in Greece dating back as far as the 6th century BC. They were very popular in Ancient Rome, and one of the most famous stone cameos from this period is the Gemma Claudia made for the Emperor Claudius. The technique has since enjoyed periodic revivals, notably in the early Renaissance, and again in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

Precious stones: A purple paste impersonating amethyst
  -  (more info on precious stones)

Birthstones: Amethyst is the birthstone (or month stone) for February.
  -  (more info on birthstones)

Hallmarks: We think to recognize the beak of the ram of the French control mark representing an ram's head that was in use in France from about 1817.
  -  (more info on hallmarks)

Dimensions: height bust 2.03 cm (0.80 inch), total length 9.80 cm (3.86 inch)

Weight: 6.70 gram (4.31 dwt)

Reference Nº: 11116-0017

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

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