At the peak of the Roman Empire, artists were commissioned to carve royal portraits of emperors and statesmen into stone and glass. Today, great museums around the world display those tiny, detailed tributes to rulers such as Tiberius, Augustus and Claudius. Their names are forever etched in history. But what of this elegant Italian beauty, carved with painstaking detail from cornelian shell? Who is she? Was she a young aristocrat who caught the eye of a Francesco Apa, the artisan who began carving in the early 1800s? If so, it's possible her likeness is still carved today by Francesco's descendants in their busy workshops on the Amalfi Coast. Whoever she may be, the Apa family brings her elegant silhouette to life with flowing locks, bouncy ringlets and a fresh spray of flowers. The pendant is set in a minimal .925 sterling silver prong setting to showcase the craftsmanship of the portrait. The back includes a pin for use as a brooch. Measures 1 ½" x 1".