Intaglio of Demosthenes attributed to Burch

A fine intaglio carving, depicting the 4th century (B.C) Greek orator Demosthenes, carved in carnelian on convex field, set in a gold fob seal dating c.1780-90.

Attributed to Edward Burch (1730-1814), a similar cast is in his catalogue of 100 casts and in the catalogue by Raspe No.9990.

There is a basalt intaglio by Wedgwood of the same subject, the mould is dated 1774, the carving was possibly supplied by Tassie who employed Burch as an engraver of intaglios. The same subject was also carved by William Brown but his portrait does not fill the field as fully as the Burch portrait. 

This work is not signed, it is an extremely fine carving and is certainly the work of a master engraver, such as Burch.