A pair of winged cherubs are shown playing jeu de volant—an early version of badminton, known in English as “battledore and shuttlecock.” The game, popular in 18th- and early 19th-century Europe, was considered a genteel pastime, emphasizing agility, lightness, and playful competition. Here it’s immortalized in a citrine intaglio, set into a gold-cased fob meant to impress wax seals.
But as with many Georgian motifs, there’s likely a double meaning. The shuttlecock’s flight was often likened to Cupid’s darting arrows, and games involving cherubs could carry undertones of flirtation, dalliance, and the back-and-forth of courtship. There's a vibe here.
MATERIALS: 10k gold (tests), citrine
AGE: c. 1820
CONDITION: Very good - minor surface wear commensurate with age and use
SIZE: 1 3/8" x 7/8"