The Room of Gold Ornaments and Gems is closed at 6 p.m. in summer, at dusk in winter.
ENGRAVED GEMS. The upright Case X, in the middle of the room, contains the finest specimens of Greek and Roman gem-engraving. The slope next the door is devoted to Intaglios, with the design sunk, as for sealing (these shown with impressions in plaster; many have the Egyptian scarab-back); they range from the 6th century B.C. to the Roman Empire. The finest Greek examples are in Compartments 39 and 40 (e.g. Girl writing, 524. Hercules and Nymph, Athene Parthenos; also 555). On the other slope of Case X are Cameos (the design left in relief). Nearly all are of the Roman period, and are stones in two layers of different colours, so cut that the ground is of one colour, the design of the other. Many Roman portraits: 3577. 'Strozzi-Blacas Augustus' wearing the ï¾µgis (Case 53); 3578. Augustus (51); 3592. Germanicus (signed; 51); 3597. Claudius (51); Julia (51, 52). From the Marlborough collection are the sardonyx of an emperor and empress as Jupiter Ammon and Isis (52), and the chalcedony apotheosis of Marciana (Trajan's sister; 76).
Other Intaglios, including specimens of the 'Mycenï¾µan' and 'Melian' periods (many in steatite), will be found in Table Case U, opposite the west face of Case X, and in the desk-cases under the windows.
Scarabs, the third class of gems, combine the characteristics of both cameo and intaglio. These will be found mainly in the desk-cases under the windows. They may be roughly divided into Scarabs and 'Scarabï¾µoid' stones, showing more or less Egyptian or Assyrian influence, and Etruscan scarabs, devoid of this influence and Greek in subject. The frames in the windows contain glass-casts of gems.
