Huge cameo with mythological romantic scene of The Black Swans

An allegory scene is a visual expression (in this case the cameo) of a novel, poem or even mythological story. And this is where our problem starts with this nicely engraved cameo. Although all the figures are clearly recognizable and even a title is given to the work, "Les cygnes noirs" (French for "The black swans"), we do not know what allegoric scene this must be.

Could this be the story of Aphrodite, Persephone and Adonis? Or does it refer to Leda and the Swan? But then what does that have to do with "The black swans"? Perhaps the artist was inspired by Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake? In that ballet there is a black swan, but just one. Or perphaps the engraver was inspired by Wagner’s opera Lohengrin, the story of an heroic Swan Prince, a man with a mysterious past who arrives on a magical swan-boat. But on the cameo there is not a man sitting on a swan but a putti (angel) with wings.

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

Other clues we have is something that looks like a name engraved on the front, like "C.Sorre" or "C.Sonne" and a signature on the back that is even harder to decipher. We read something like "RoLarbonepiy" (????) See also the pictures for these names.

Antique jewelry object group: brooch

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 Belgian origin.

Style: Estate
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Period: ca. 1930
  -  (events and facts in 1930)

Source of inspiration: Mythology ?

Theme: to be determined

Material: 18K red gold
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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: cameo
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Hallmarks: No trace.
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Dimensions: width 6.80 cm (2.68 inch), height 6.70 cm (2.64 inch), thickness 1.95 cm (0.77 inch)

Weight: 47.70 gram (30.67 dwt)

Reference Nº: 11116-0013

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

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