NEW FAKE ALERT:I HAVE RECENTLY COME ACROSS WHAT LOOKS LIKE IVORY BUT HAS SYMETRICAL LINES UP AND DOWN,I BELIEVE THIS IS DONE BY SOME KIND OF MACHINE AND IS VEGTABLE IVORY NOT REAL IVORY,.MAY NOT EVEN BE VEGTABLE IVORY MAY BE SOME OTHER MAN MADE ITEM.FAKE ALERT==IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THERE ARE LAVA CAMEOS BEING MADE NOW THAT LOOK JUST LIKE THE OLD ONES.THEY ARE REPROS.SOME BEING MADE IN ENGLAND. BE CAREFUL IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR OLD LAVA PIECES.I RECENTLY PURCHASED WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A LAVA CAMEO.IT WAS TO HEAVY,TO SHINY AND WHEN LOOKED AT IT UNDER A LOUPE THERE WERE TINY BEADS WHERE THE POURED LIQUID HAD HARDENED OUTSIDE OF MOLD.THERE WERE NO CARVE MARKS AND THE SETTING LOOKED VERY OLD -EVEN HAD SOLDER IN DIFFERENT PLACES.PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR THESE.THEY ARE VERY HIGH RELIEF.3 WKS AFTER I SENT THIS BACK THE IDENTICAL CAMEO IN A DIFFERENT FRAME CAME UP ON EBAY FROM ANOTHER STATE.2 DIFFERENT FRAMES,2 DIFFERENT STATES BUT THE SAME HIGH RELIEF LAVA HEAD.A LADY FEEDING A BIRD GRAPES.PLEASE NOTE SOME OF THEM DO NOT HAVE THE BEADS.
THERE IS ANOTHER CAMEO BEING MADE IN ENGLAND.VERY HIGH RELIEF WOMEN WITH GRAPESIN HER HAIR-IT COMES IN PINK,WHITE,BLACK AND AMBER.IT IS USUALLY SET IN SILVER LOOKING MATERIAL.THIS IS VERY LARGE AND HIGH RELIEF.LOOKS VERY GOOD.THEY HIT THE MARKET AROUND 5 YRS AGO.THEY SELL IN ENGLAND FOR AROUND 50.00.I HAVE SEEN MANY OF THESE ON THE INTERNET.
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN ALOT OF CAMEOS SOLD LATELY AS IVORY THAT ARE OLD CELLULOID.SOME OF THESE A NEEDLE WILL NOT GO THRU.THEY ARE HIGH RELIEF.SOME SAY DEPOSE ON THE PINS.MOST OF THEM WERE DONE FROM 1910-1930.
NEWEST FAKE ALERT: I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS CAMEOS SOLD ON THE INTERNET AS SHELL THAT ARE PLASTIC AND NEW. .IN PARTICULAR THERE IS A CHERUB CLIMBING A LADDER IN A VINEYARD.THE CAMEO EVEN GOES UP AND DOWN LIKE THE REAL ONES. THIS IS MASS PRODUCED AND MOLDED.THE NEWEST ONE IS A MADOONA WITH HAND PRAYING FULL FACED.THIS IS RESIN-A NEEDLE WILL NOT GO THRU IT ALSO.
Sometime when a shell grows it stretches leaving natural lines in the shell.These are not from age,drying out or cracks.They are the natural growth of the shell.So brand new cameos can have these lines especially seen from the back and they do not take away any value of the cameo.
I love cameos.They are miniature works of art. Because of this I want everyone to learn about them. I have prepared this page to help you out.Cameo have doubled and in some cases tripled in price in the last 10 years.
Cameo History: Stone cameos have been carved since 332 bc. That is when the first agate was found that could be carved. The place was Alexandria, Egypt. Even though shells were carved from the 1500's most shell cameos were carved after the late 1700's.
Cameos for years have been used as photos when there were none. Roman and Greek emperors and rulers were imortalized in stone or shell. The Greek artists of the roman empire carved gods and godesses. In the renaissance, Greco Roman style was predominate in the portraits, myths, and legends carved.Many famous people have loved cameos.Josephine and Napoleon wore them all the time. Queen Victoria loved them and had many carved for subjects.Thru out the ages they were prized as works of art and very valuable.
The demand for cameos was so great that the stone started to run out and other mediums were sought after. Shell was plentiful along with lava from Mt. Vesuvius. In the early 1800's many people visited Europe on the Grand Tour and wanted souvenirs to take back. Cameos were pictures of what they had seen. Later in WWII men were stationed in Italy and brought back cameos for their women.
For 100 years, 1840-1940, the cameo was the one piece of jewelry most women owned. In the 1930's the diamond industry, trying to get women to buy diamonds, started putting diamonds in cameos.Most women owned a cameo but not a diamond.This is called Cameo habille, or decorated.Most of these are white gold.White gold was not used until 1919.
The traditional cameo shell of Italy is the flame or bullmouth helmet cassis rufa found on the African coast and commonly called the carnelian shell. Today a lot of modern cameos are being carved out of a much larger shell called the emperor helmet; this is a brown and white shell . PLEASE NOTE that all pink cameos advertised as angel skin coral are not; they are pink conch or roselyn shell from the Bahamas. There are very few angel skin coral cameos out there.Angel skin will have an overall pink,white,salmon color.Many times if you look close with a loop your can see tiny dark pitted places-this is the natural growth of the coral.Pink conch looks very hard,pinky and will have a white head on pink background.PLEASE NOTE:Also I have seen alot of filligree cameos lately with colored stones in frame advertised especially as emeralds or saphires. These are not REAL they are glass.White gold was first used in 1918.
Today shell cameos are still carved in Torre del Greco, a little village at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius. Stone cameos are being cut in Ider Oberstein Germany and are being done by laser.Some stone cameos are still being cut by hand but they are very styalized almost art nouveau looking. A shell cameo has to be cut by hand, as it is too soft and too irregular for machine cutting.A modern master carved cameo is carved from start to finish by one person and is usually signed.It can take a week or more.To become a master carver a student has to graduate from the art institute in Torre Del Greco.There are only 2 women carvers in all of Italy. Most cameos sold today in the U.S.are apprentice caved .A shop can turn out as many as 60 a day with different carvers doing different stages like an assembly line.These cameos are done 100's of times in the same way.Not one of a kinds other than the fact they are hand carved and no 2 are alike.Most are very poorly carved with little detail.
I am happy to be able to offer one of a kind master carved and signed cameos on my web site. These are wonderful collectibles of tomorrow...They will increase in value and are a good investment.I have many in my own collection.Do not hesitate to buy them because they are new.Many of them are very rare scenes.Please note these are nothing like the Madegascar cameos being offered today.They are apprentice carved and mass produced.Most are very poorly carved.
Buying Cameos: The most important advice I can give you is to buy from a reputable dealer who knows about cameos. I have found few do. You need to decide the right size for you. Most people start with a head and go on from there. Do not look for gold in a cameo, 80% of your fine cameos are not set in gold. I sell cameos by carving first,theme,age, size and than setting Many dealers charge 100% more for a cameo set in gold. Older cameos are set in brass, pinchbeck, gold filled, silver vermeil, or silver. A cameo not in its original setting takes away some of the value. There are many fine unset cameos however that were never set. Many tourists brought home unset cameos from Italy. Many cameos were carved in Italy and set in France, England and Germany. Always look for clean crisp carvings. Full figures and scenes are worth at least 30% more than heads unless a really fine head of god or godess.. Stress marks and lines or natural growth marks are okay but cracks take away as much as 80% of the value if split. When I say crack I mean the 2 pieces of cameo are actually seperated.99% of your cameos are going to have some kind of lines in them.Even new cameos have lines in them.It is the way the shell grew or was tossed around in the ocean.A damaged split-cameo cannot be fixed.Some themes are very rare and therefore worth more because of the scarcity.In the UK there are porcelain restorers that pour some kind of filler over the whole cameo and hide the cracks.They call these cameos restored.Care and Cleaning: Cameos are alive and they need to breathe. They do not like heat. They should be oiled at least once a year. I use mineral oil. I do not like olive oil because if it is not completely removed it will turn a cameo yellow and smelly. Soak for a couple of hours.If really dry looking soak overnight. I use a soft toothbrush, dish soap, and luke warm water, and wash until the oil is gone. Dry thoroughly!!!!! For yellow stains sometimes Neutrogena shampoo and a soft toothbrush will get them out.You may have to do this many times but some yellowing does dissappear after this process.Do not leave any oil on the cameo!!!! DO NOT dip in cleaners, this will dry them out.I see many cameos that look frosted and this is because they have been put in harsh cleaners and the finish is taken off.Do not store in plastic bags,hot places or on cotton pads in boxes-all this drys them out.The best place is just sitting in a drawer in jewelry box,etc.They are brittle is you drop them on floor they may break.Also they can be worn down.You see many rings with no features left on face because the person has rubbed them.You can clean ivory sometimes with toothpaste.Lava is very tricky.I use a white artist eraser.be careful about dipping lava in water.
Age/Fakes: Since most shell cameos are Italian, they can be circa dated to 20 year periods, according to hair styles, jewelry, clothes, scenes and settings. Pin backs are a good clue. Also, white gold was not used until after 1910. Greco Roman noses were predominate from 1910 back.Rebecca by the well was carved up untill 1900.Most cameos with white borders on them were done 1950's up.
Jet cameo will have carve marks and are very light.French jet is glass.Coral cameos are not pink on white they have an all over color and many times have small nubs in the coral.A common practice in Victorian times was also to take an ivory or shell cameo and glue it on an agate background.There are also cameo that are made in wax.These are mostly busts of people.
Today most new cameos have pug noses, sweeping hair, slim bodies like Barbie. Most all cameos for sale in the US today are apprentice carved.There are many fine Master carved cameos being carved today in Italy-most go to Japan.They are very expensive and considered works of art.Most studios today in Italy have at least 2 master carvers on staff.
There are some very fine plastic cameos out, so beware. Since a shell cameo is a shell the back is curved. Also you can see little carvng marks. Also you can get familar with the coloration. Most plastic cameos have a different coloration than shell.You can always do the hot needle test. If it melts, it's plastic.There are also some very hard resins out there that will not melt with the hot needle.If you buy a old cameo that is wire wrapped make sure that the structure of the cameo is not damaged and you can cut off the wire wrap.Wire wrap takes away from the value of old cameos up to 50%..It is a nice way to set a cameo without doing fabrication but very bad for the value of the cameo to collectors.Also most wire wrapper say the setting is gold when it is gold filled.Very few wire wrappers use solid gold.
Finally do not get overwhemed when shopping. I find people usually buy the first cameo they are drawn to. Cameos are a great investment. They have tripled in price since 1991. They are the finest family heirloom you can pass on. The old ones are getting harder and harder to get. The master carvers are dying out.Please do not pass up wonderful cameos because they are not set in gold.If you are going to be a serious collector of cameos settings will make no difference to you.
I hope this has helped.
For more info please see Anna Miller's book "Cameos Old and New." I am listed in it, along with a few pictures of some of my collection. This is the greatest teaching book available...
BIG FAKE CAMEO LOOKS LIKE AMBER ALSO COMES IN WHITE-PINK-BLACK COLOR-NEW BEING MADE IN ENGLAND
SELLS FOR AROUND 35.00
BELOW YOU SEE PLASTIC RESIN CAMEOS FROM CHINA.
2 FAKE AGATE CAMEOS THAT ARE NOT AGATE.-GLASS
RESIN CAMEOS OR HARD PLASTIC-COLORS NEVER LOOK LIKE THIS ON REAL SHELL
.
Pink conch cameos not angel skin coral.99% of your pink cameo are pink conch.
pp
MANY HAVE ASKED ABOUT GIOVANNI NOTO.99% OF THE CAMEOS SIGNED G.NOTO ARE BY HIS STUDENTS.HE MANAGED G.APA STUIDIO CARVERS FOR YEARS.HE DIED IN 1985.PLEASE CONTACT THE GIOVANNI APA WEBSITE FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT HIM!
| CLICK |
SOLD 1221C This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF DIANA THE HUNTRESS ON HORSEBACK STALKING THE LION.On of the nicest I have ever had.The cameo is set in a newer 9ct gold frame and is a pendant only.The frame is marked.The size is 15/8 by2.Nice large bale.The cameo is mint no lines.The cameo is from around 1880 the setting looks to be newer.CLICKCLICKCLICKCLICK |
| click |
SOLD 1215C This is a FINE PINK CONCH CAMEO OF A BACCANTE.The setting is hand carved Whitby Jet with a Greek key pattern.This is the type of cameo you have to hold in your hand to appreciate it.Hard to photograpth.The size is 13/4 by2.Has the c and t pin.May be a replacement as I see a hole on the one end.There are a few tiny surface scuffs on the back.The cameo is mint.From around 1860.CLICKCLICKCLICKCLICK |
| CLICK |
SOLD 1178C This is a HUGE CAMEO OF A GUARDIAN ANGEL AND A CHILD AT A CROSS. |
| CLICK |
SOLD 1197C This is a HUGE CAMEO OF PEACE.Psyche is holding a dove which stands for peace.The setting is 15 ct gold not marked but tested.The size is13/4 by 21/4.The cameo has the c and t pin and a safety chain.There are a few natural lines only seen when held to light.From around 1860.A fine and fabulous cameo.CLICKCLICKCLICK |
| CLICK |
SOLD 1221C This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF MADONNA ON THE CHAIR.The setting is 15 kt gold not marked but tested.It ia all engraved around the edge.The cameo retains its c and t pin.The size is 17/8 by 23/8 The cameo is mint and carved by a master.There are a few natural lines seen on the back fine on the front.From around 1850.This is one of the nicest ones I have had with this subject.CLICKCLICKCLICK |
| .CLICK |
sold This is a FINE LAVA CAMEO OF BACCHUS AND GRAPE LEAVES. |
| CLICK |
SOLD 1200C rare 4 face ATHENA CAMEO IN 15 CT GOLD.1880 |
| CLICK |
SOLD 1200C This is a WONDERFUL LARGE CAMEO OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT IN HIS CHARIOT. |
| click |
SOLD 1190C This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF THE 3 FATES. |
| CLICK |
SOLD 1027C This is ONE OF THE RAREST CAMEO I HAVE HAD FROM MY OWN COLLECTION.It is museum quality.It is the Judgement of Paris.IT is very large 21/8 by 25/8.The setting is 9-12 ct gold.The cameo is from around 1860 and the setting may be a newer addition maybe 1920.Mint condition with no lines.You have Terpsichore,Eros,Mercury and Aphrodite,This came from a very important estate in France.I have never seen this before on a cameo-truly a one of a kind collector cameo.There will never be another.CLICKCLICKCLICKCLICK |
| CLICK |
sold 1032C This is an XXX RARE MOURNING CAMEO OF 3 WOMEN AT THE TOMB OF A MAN.Maybe the father.This could be a mother and 2 grown daughters.The setting is 18 kt gold.It retains its c and t pin and has a gold safety chain.Fabulous 3 tiers of twist work by a master goldsmith.There are a few teeny lines only seen when held to light from the back.The cameo is mint.I have never seen another like this.The age is around 1850.The size is 17/8 by 21/8.The gold on the back has a few tiny dimples.Much nicer in person.There is so much detail. I love how the one women has her head on the shoulder of the main figure.CLICKCLICKCLICK |
| click |
sold 1187C This is a MUSEUM QUALITY PINK CONCH CAMEO OF HERA.The setting is silver not marked but tested.has the c pin.You can also wear it as a pendant.The size is 11/4 by 15/8.It is mint and line free.This is pink conch not angel skin coral.From around 1880.CLICKCLICKCLICK |
| click |
SOLD 1186C This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF SAINT St. Aloysius Ganzaga, |
| click |
SOLD 1184C This is an EXTREMELY RARE MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF AN OLD WOMEN AND MAN AND A CAT. |
| click |
SOLD 1005C This is a HUGE CAMEO OF A QUEEN THAT HAS A LOCKET BACK AND FLIPS.My be Victoria.The cameo is set in a Pinchbeck frame.The size is 21/2 by 3.The cameo and frame are mint.Retains its c and t pin.You could slide a chain thru the top part of mount and wear it on a necklace.From around 1860.I have never seen one like this before.Much nicer in person.The Pinchbeck looks like high ct.gold.CLICKCLICKCLICKCLICK |
| click |
SOLD 1173C This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED PINK CONCH ATHENA.Fabulous detail look at the face of Zeus on her helmet.The shell is almost white and without lines which is very rare in pink conch.The setting is 14 kt goldThe setting is not marked but tested to 14 kt..The cameo retains its c and t pin..It is 11/2 by 17/8.There is natural coloration on the back from sea salt.This cameo is perfect relief and mint and much nicer in person.From around 1860.CLICKCLICKCLICK |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF FLORA.The best ever. |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is FULL FACED CAMEO OF PSYCHE..Very rare and museum quality.. |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a FINE CAMEO SET OF A MUSE DANCING. |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a VERY RARE EARLY VICTORIAN-GEORGIAN CAMEO OF ZEUS. |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a NICE LARGE CAMEO HABILLE SET IN 14 KT WHITE GOLD WITH A REAL DIAMOND ON HER NECK. |
| CLICK |
sold This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF PSYCHE WITH HER BUTTERFLIES. |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a FINE AND RARE CAMEO OF PARIS. |
| CLICK |
sold This is a FABULOUS MUSEUM QULAITY CAMEO OF HEBE AND THE EAGLE. |
| CLICK |
sold MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF ZEUS AND HERA AND EAGLE AND MERCURY |
| CLICK |
sold ONE THE THE FINEST NIGHT AND DAY CAMEOS EVER |
| CLICK |
sold RARE CAMEO OF NEPTUNE |
| CLICK |
sold This is a VERY FINE PINK CONCH CAMEO OF OMPHALE. |
| CLICKF |
sold This is a RARE AND UNUSUAL CAMEO OF BABY MICHAEL AND THE DRAGON. |
| CLICK |
sold This is a XX RARE MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF APOLLO. |
| CLICK | sold |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a RARE AND FINE CAMEO OF NYX-NIGHT AND AURORA-DAWN FLYING IN THE HEAVENS. |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a FINE CIVIL WAR PERIOD CAMEO OF A WOMEN AND HER DOG. |
| CLICK |
sold This is is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF FLORA. |
| CLICK |
SOLD The is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF DIONYSUS. |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a FINE MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF NYX AND HER OWL |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is ONE OF THE FINEST MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO I HAVE HAD. |
| CLICK |
sold Museum quality cameo of Psyche with her butterfly |
| CLICK |
sold This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF DIANA AND ATHENA AND EROS WITH HIS BOW. |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF NIGHT AND DAY.The best ever |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF APHRODITE AND A DOVE. |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF ARIADIN WITH A BASKET OF GRAPES |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is an EXTREMELY RARE CAMEO THAT IS CARVED LIKE A RUSSIAN ICON. |
| CLIC |
SOLD This is a FABULOUS CAMEO OF HOPE WITH THE ANCHOR. |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF BACCHUS WITH HIS WINE GLASS AND GRAPES. |
| .CLICK |
SOLD This is a HUGE CAMEO OF A WOMEN WITH A GOAT |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a FABULOUS MUSEUM QUALITY TEMPLE SCENE. |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a FABULOUS AND RARE HARD TO FIND CERES WITH HORSES CAMEO |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF PARIS IN A 15 ct gold frame tested |
| .CLICK |
SOLD This is a FABULOUS HUGE SARDONYX SHELL WITH A MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF BACCHUS OR BACCANTE. |
| .CLICK |
SOLD This is a RARE AND FINE MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF THE MARRIAGE OF PSYCHE AND EROS. |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF TERPSICHORE. |
| CLICK |
SOLD This is a FABULOUS XXX RARE CAMEO OF SATURN SET IN A KILLER PINCHBECK |
| CLICK |
sold This is a FINE CAMEO OF A YOUNG PRICE ALBERT CARVED BY THE SAULINI STUDIOS. |
Cameo
Heaven
JANHome Victorian Costume Other Silver Non-Jewelry Cameos Gold Signed Costume Signed
SilverVintage
Jewelry
