Ancient (?) Greek (?) Intaglio (?)

[HenrikV]

Ok, lot's of question marks here. I just bought this one, mainly cause it was cheap, unidentified and looked cool (at least to me it does). At first i thought it might be from a ring or something, but i believe it's slightly too large for a ring? It also appears to be carved from wood? I wondered about it being part of a necklace or perhaps a brooch, but then again, no fancy material used here. On the other hand, a very detailed fine piece. And obviously old. I have been researching it, but can't really figure out what it is.

Greek/Roman warrior something? Anyone has a guess to what this originally was?

And of course, Merry Christmas!!!

 

[tamrock]

My thoughts are a Victorian era piece made of gutta percha. ??

Merry Christmas to you

 

[Rasputin]

Not intaglio--intaglio is incised into the piece. Tamrock has it right.

 

[Mackaydon]

Right; as I understand it, gutta percha is the material used in the raised (or embossed) surface; the intaglio is the cavity, if any, that is created opposite the raised surface.
Don....

 

[DCMatt]

Agree it is Victorian era. Brooch? Stick pin?

Looks like Menelaus (aka Ajax) - King of Sparta and husband of Helen of Troy.

DCMatt