Oval sapphire, old-cut diamonds, 18k yellow gold (French mark), signed O.Roty for the reproduced engraving, circa 1900

Gem Paris, 2025, report n°.20251978269-2: Sri-Lanka, non heated

Sapphire: with an approximate weight of 1.10-1.40 carat

Size/Dimensions: 52.5 cm, pendant 7.0 x 4.5 cm
Gross weight: 36.2 grams

In this allegorical work, filled with tenderness and spirituality, Oscar Roty — the renowned French medallist and engraver — delicately illustrates the redemptive power of love. Represented as a winged child, Love is shown comforting Humanity, symbolized by a sorrowful, veiled female figure. The composition, characteristic of fin-de-siècle symbolism, blends classical grace with romantic emotion.

This poetic scene, finely engraved, reflects Roty’s humanist and idealistic concerns. It conveys a universal message of hope: in the face of the world’s suffering, love remains a healing force, capable of softening sorrow and restoring faith in humanity. Through this motif, Roty not only demonstrates his mastery of bas-relief but also offers a profoundly emotional meditation on human resilience.

Similar double-sided silver medal L'Amour console l'Humanité, signed O. Roty,1899, exhibited at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris (France).