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 GRAPES IN 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.
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. Because of the increase of gold in price the amount of gold does matter in the frame.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 |
This is a RARE CAMEO OF GANYMEDES AND ZEUS IN THE CLOUDS..The setting is a very elaborate gold gilt that looks like high kt.,gold.The size is 1 7/8 by 2 1/8.Has the c and t pin and a safety chain.From around 1850.This is a rare scene seldom found. Much nicer in person.click click click |
| CLICK |
This is a CAMEO OF 6 PUTTIS PLAYING AND VENUS WITH HER JUG OF LIFE.The setting is 9ct gold not marked but tested.Has the t bar and a safety hook.IT also has a safety chain.The size is 1/2 by 1 7/8.Very dark shell with sea salt on the back.From the 1940-50.s.If you look close there are 2 people swimming in the lake also.CLICK CLICK CLICK |
| CLICK |
This is a FABULOUS EARLY TURQUOISE GLASS CAMEO OF PSYCHE AND EROS.So cute he is sneaking up on the butterfly Psyche.The frame is enamelled and 14 kt gold not marked but tested.The size is 1 1/4 by 1 1/2.Much nicer in person.Most of these were French.Has the c and t pin. from around 1860.There are a few tiny little pits in cameo not seen in person.Very rare and unique.CLICK CLICK CLICK |
| CLICK | This is a LARGE AND FINE CAMEO OF ST MICHAEL SLEWING THE DEVIL.The setting is 9 ct gold.Not marked but tested..Lots of gold.The size is 21/4 by 3 5/8.The cameo has c and t and a large loop for chain.There has been a repair on the c part at one time to make it stronger..The cameo is 13/4 by 21/8.This is a hard one to get I havnt had one in years..Really neat old shell with natural spots on back and white but no lines.Looks to be signed.From around 1860.CLICKCLICKCLICKCLICK |
| CLICK | From my own collection a very rare CAMEO OF CALVARY. |
| CLICK | This is a HUGE MANGER SCENE CAMEO.Set in 14 kt gold marked and tested. |
| CLICK | This is a HUGE CAMEO OF THE HOLY FAMILY WITH JOHN |
| CLICK | This is a RARE CAMEO OF PARIS AND HELEN IN 9 CT GOLD |
| CLICK |
This
is a RARE AND FINE COMMASSO CAMEO.IT is museum quality.Commasso means
decorated and most of these were done in Naples . The cameo is signed
on the front right side Lamont.He is a famous carver. This is the
nicest Commasso cameo I have ever seen.It has been in my own collection
for years. There is mother of pearl in the hair and green agate,and
agate flowers..The dress is carved agate also with pearl.It has the c
and t pin and is set in silver not marked but tested.From around
1860.This is Hera or the Goddess of Fortune.Much nicer in person.The
size is 1 1/2 by 2 1/4.These are so hard to find.There will never be
another.Much nicer in person. CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK |
| CLICK |
This
is a LARGE EAST WEST CAMEO OF VENUS AND CUPID IN THE CLOUDS. |
| CLICK |
This is a RARE AND FINE CAMEO OF A YOUNG GIRL WITH A DOVE.STANDS FOR LOVE. |
| CLICK | This
is a RARE MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF NIKE |
| CLICK | This is a FINE EARLY MOTHER OF PEARL CAMEO OF A BIRD WITH A NOTE.. |
| CLICK | This
is a HUGE MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF EROS-CUPID WITH THE ROMA
LION. |
| CLICK | This is a RARE SCENE OF A CHERUB RIDING A DOLPHIN.The shell is behind glass with a closed back.What you see is the reflection of tiny specs of lint caught in the glass caused by the camera.You cannot see them in person.The size is 2 by 2 1/4.From around 1860.Very rare to see dolphins in cameos.The setting is Pinchbeck. Has the c and t pin. CLICK CLICK CLICK |
| CLICK | This is a FINE CAMEO HEAD OF CERES THE GODDESS OF THE HARVEST.The setting is silver not marked but tested.Has the c and t pin and a tiny loop top center for safety chain or loop for chain.The size is 1 3/8 by 1 1/2.From around 1870.There are a few natural lines only seen when held to light.CLICK CLICK |
| CLICK | This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF A BEAUTIFUL WOMEN WITH 2 CHERUBS. |
| CLICK | This is a FINE VICTORIAN CABINET CAMEO SHELL.There are 9 women,6 cherubs and a bull.It comes with its own brass stand.The height is 6 1/2 inches.Museum quality carved.The 3 graces, muses and Zeus disquised as the bull.The cherubs have flowers.From around 1870. CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK |
| CLICK | A FABULOUS GEORGIAN CAMEO NECKLACE.Some of these scenes I have never seen.The metal is 9 ct gold not marked but tested.From around 1820.The necklace is in excellent condition for its age.A few of them have natural lines seen when held to light.The length is just over 14" a choker which is what most of these always are.The 2 center cameo are11/4 by 1 1/8 nice large size.The smallest on the catch is 1/2 by 3/4.It has a strong slide in catch.There is hebe and Zeus.Hera with children,Hector,the blacksmith,etc.Much nicer in person..CLICKCLICKCLICKCLICKCLICKCLICKCLICKCLICK |
| CLICK |
|
| CLICK | This
is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF NIGHT AND DAY. |
| CLICK | .This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO BRACELET .The cameos are a mix of 10kt and 14 kt not marked but tested.It is chunky and large.The middle cameo is 1 3/4 inches tall.There is Flora and Psyche.On the back of the middle cameo is the name Hattie Perryman.Do not know who this is. Has a safety chain and a large slide hook.From around 1880. It fits a small to 7 inch wrist.It could be made longer by adding o-rings at end.Much nicer in person. The cameos are mint. CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK |
| CLICK | This is A HUGE LAVA CAMEO OF CERES THE GODDESS OF THE HARVEST.
|
| CLICK | This
is a VERY RARE CAMEO OF NEPTUNE WITH SIRENS AND MAYBE VENUS.ItT
is very large at 1 7/8 by 2 1/4.From around 1840.I was going to mount it but never got
around to it.A seldom scene theme.The cameo is mint. There are even
dolphins in the scene. |
| CLICK | This is a FABULOUS FINELY CARVED CAMEO OF PSYCHE. |
| CLICK |
|
| CLICK | This is a FINE AND RARE FLAPPER HABILLE CAMEO. |
| CLICK | This is a LARGE RARE AND FINE CAMEO OF THE 4 WINDS AND PEACE. |
| CLICK | This is a FINE LARGE MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF ATHENA THE GODDESS OF WAR |
| CLICK |
HUGE CAMEO OF 3 MEN WITH HORSE. |
| CLICK | This is a LARGE CAMEO OF THE ABDUCTION OF PERSEPHONE BY HADES. |
| CLICK | This is a FINE LARGE CAMEO OF BACCHUS AND AN ANGEL GATHERING GRAPES |
| CLICK | This is a VERY RARE AND HARD TO GET MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF THE 3 WITCHES. |
| CLICK | Very fine BANDED AGATE CAMEO OF HERCULES WITH NEMEAN LION SET WITH PEARLS. |
| CLICK | Extremely RARE CAMEO OF QUEEN VICTORIA AND ALBERT. |
| CLICK | This is a HUGE AND RARE CAMEO OF MERCURY WITH MAYBE PERSEPHONE. |
| CLICK |
This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED LAVA CAMEO OF SYBIL. |
| CLICK |
This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF THE 3 GRACES.The size is 2 1/4 by 2 3/8 -very large. |
| CLICK |
This is a FABULOUS COURTING SCENE WITH CHERUB AND MUSICIANS. |
| CLICK |
This is a FABULOUS CAMEO OF PSYCHE AND EROS AND CHERUBS. |
| CLICK |
This is a FINE AND RARE MOURNING CAMEO WITH A SKULL ON THE TABLE. |
| CLICK |
This is a FABULOUS CAMEO OF A BABY BACCHUS WITH HIS DOG. |
| CLICK |
This is a FABULOUS CAMEO OF VENUS AND CUPID. |
| CLICK |
This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF HERMES OR MERCURY. |
| CLICK |
This is an EXTREMELY RARE AND HARD CAMEO TO GET. |
| CLICK |
This is a FABULOUS CAMEO OF A ROYAL PERSON |
| CLICK |
This is a MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED ONE PIECE BANDED AGATE CAMEO OF DIONYSUS. |
| CLICK |
This is a LARGE VICTORIAN CAMEO OF A MAN AND A WOMEN. |
| CLICK |
This is a HUGE AND FINE MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF MUSE PLAYING PIANO WITH CHERUB PEEKING OVER. |
| CLICK |
This is a HUGE COMMASSO CAMEO OF PERSEUS WITH A CORAL MEDUSA. |
| CLICK |
HUGE MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF GUARDIAN ANGEL |
| click |
FABULOUS ROMANTIC CAMEO OF WOMEN AND CHERUBS |
| CLICK |
HUGE CAMEO OF THE ANGEL OF HOPE. |
| CLICK |
MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF PSYCHE AND EROS. |
| CLICK |
ONE OF THE NICEST HABILLE CAMEOS I HAVE HAD |
| CLICK |
ONE OF THE FINEST AND MOST INTRICATE CAMEOS I HAVE EVER HAD |
| CLICK |
MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF A MUSE CELEBRATING THE BABY BACCHUS. |
| click |
RARE ENAMELLED CAMEO OF 2 MEN |
| click |
Rare MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF HEBE-FRENCH |
| click |
MUSEUM QUALITY CARVED CAMEO OF CERES OR FLORA. |
| CLICK |
XX RARE VERY FINE CAMEO OF VENUS IN THE HALF SHELL BEING DRIVEN BY DOLPHINS. |
| CLICK |
RARE MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF ST SEBASTIAN BEING TIED TO A TREE AND THE ANGEL GREETING HIM TO HEAVEN. |
| CLICK |
FINEST ANGEL I HAVE EVER HAD IN HEAVY GOLD SETTING.1840 |
| click |
MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF HERA AND HER CHILDREN. |
| CLICK |
MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF THE ANNUNCIATION ANGEL. |
| CLICK |
WOW I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAMEO LIKE THIS BEFORE.Fabulous flowers,with shells and harps and a little gnome sitting in the middle. |
| .CLICK |
FABULOUS MUSEUM QUALITY TOMMASO SAULINI CAMEO OF THE FAMOUS BRITISH ARTIST ARTHUR ABBOT |
| CLICK |
HUGE MUSEUM QUALITY CAMEO OF SYBIL. |
| CLICK |
ONE THE THE FINEST NIGHT AND DAY CAMEOS EVER |
| CLICK |
FINE CAMEO OF A YOUNG PRICE ALBERT CARVED BY THE SAULINI STUDIOS. |
|
This is a FINE CABINET SHELL CAMEO OF A WAGON LOAD OF GYPSIES.They look like Russian peasants.The shell is large at 6 inches.The cameo is 4 1/2 inches across.Comes with a plastic stand.One of my own collection of 17 I will be listing.Really fine carving CLICK CLICK CLICK. |
Cameo
Heaven
JANHome Victorian Costume Other Silver Non-Jewelry Cameos Gold Signed Costume Signed
SilverVintage
Jewelry
