Agate with a modern gold mount Italy, 16th century Weight 6,8 gr; US size 6 1/2 A young, beardless man is shown in profile to the left. The small-scale sculpture in low relief was carved from agate. The technique was first developed at the Hellenistic courts and enthusiastically taken up by the Romans who favored portraits and mythological scenes. Antique gems remained the ideal for all subsequent gem-engravers and the stylistic principles developed in antiquity were regarded as classical canons as cameo portraits flourished once again in Italy during the Renaissance. A agate cameo finely sculpted with the bust of a man turned to the left; simple but substantial gold mount is modern.