What number of real cameos do you personal? What number of of them are actually outstanding? Have you learnt the way to inform? Earlier than I provide you with some hints on distinguishing the perfect in cameo jewellery, I’ll admit that I’m not a cameo collector. I inherited a few cameo brooches from members of the family years in the past, although, and have researched to search out out extra about them.
Via that course of (and by belonging to a number of on-line jewellery teams the place cameos are mentioned infrequently and plenty of jewellery examine generally), I’ve discovered sufficient to acknowledge a superior cameo after I see one. The examples in my household jewellery stash—as fairly and sentimentally precious as they’re to me—aren’t that kind. Nevertheless, figuring out in regards to the good ones has paid off after I’ve been out foraging the flea markets, so having that data underneath my belt saved me from passing up some good acquisitions. I’ll allow you to in on just a few issues I all the time search in a cameo so yow will discover a treasure, too.
What I Search for in Superb Cameo Jewellery
Cameos have been round since historical instances, they usually’ve been carved from all sorts of pure supplies, together with real gem stones. They’ve additionally been molded out of plastic and glass way more just lately. Most of the oldest ones are held in museum collections, and the costume jewellery variations deserve some consideration of their very own in a unique function.
So, on this article, I’m specializing in the group you’ll run throughout, most frequently relationship from the Victorian period by the early 1900s. By this time, cameo jewellery was already in excessive demand, and a few older carvings have been being reset into bespoke jewellery. Memento cameos have been being introduced again from Italy, particularly to the UK, and carvers in the USA have been working to create customized cameo designs, too, as famous in an 1850 version of Godey’s Woman’s Ebook.
Contemplating these elements, listed below are the important thing attributes I search for in a very fascinating cameo, whether or not it’s set right into a brooch, bracelet, necklace, or ring:
Superb Supplies—Many advantageous cameos are set in treasured metals. Older cameos might not be marked to point the metallic content material, although, so don’t rule one out if you happen to don’t see a stamping. Even when the metallic is marked, that doesn’t imply the cameo itself is a superior instance, nevertheless it’s all the time price noting since it may possibly definitely make the piece extra precious general. On some uncommon events when distinctive particulars are current, you might be able to determine the maker of the jewellery with some devoted analysis, however more often than not, that continues to be a thriller.
The precise cameo might be carved from many alternative supplies starting from agate to corundum and onyx to jet. Coral and lava have been additionally ceaselessly carved into cameos throughout the Victorian interval. The commonest materials of all is shell because it was plentiful and may very well be bought at a wide selection of value factors. You possibly can generalize that stone cameos could have probably the most worth, adopted by coral, lava, and the like, with shells mentioning the rear. Nevertheless, that leads us to the following level, which is much more vital.
Beautiful Craftsmanship—Whatever the setting and it doesn’t matter what the cameo is manufactured from, the talent and creativity exhibited within the carving make all of the distinction. Since these little artistic endeavors have been made by carving away stone or shell to create a portrait or scene, the intricacies and detailing created by a grasp craftsman are what actually set a fantastic cameo other than a mean one.
A few of these carvings will likely be in excessive aid. That’s, the face or determine depicted within the cameo will rise considerably above the background. Others will embody minute particulars you’d anticipate finding in advantageous artwork, resembling intricately carved locks of hair or realistically flowing cloth and true-to-life facial options. Examine any of the cameos illustrating this text to those you often see when you’re buying property gross sales and flea markets, and also you’ll see what I imply.
Uncommon Motifs—I additionally search for cameos which can be out of the odd by way of material with some caveats. “Scenic cameos are usually costlier than bust cameos. A very talked-about motif round 1860 was what is called ‘Rebecca on the Properly.’ There are a lot of variations on this theme, however they often embody a cottage, a bridge, and a woman,” as famous by C. Jeanenne Bell in Solutions to Questions About Previous Jewellery. The important thing right here is that Rebecca on the Properly was a classy design so many have been made. Meaning you’ll be able to’t assume all scenic cameos convey large bucks. Most Rebecca on the Properly cameos promote within the a whole lot or much less, in truth, whereas different fascinating scenes might promote within the 1000’s.
Different Victorian cameos have motifs referring to Roman or Greek themes, together with these that includes mythological characters. A cameo exhibiting Roman troopers in battle won’t convey as a lot as a grouping of Greek gods or goddesses. Even with bust cameos, you’ll run throughout some rarities. These depicting African American topics and a few that includes well-known males or flappers might be price greater than a generic feminine in profile, however high quality carving continues to be crucial.
A Cameo Conclusion
As I discussed earlier, my inherited keeper cameos aren’t the very best high quality sorts I all the time hope to search out. They’re merely enticing shell cameos that common customers might afford after they have been made within the late 1800s. In case you come throughout cameos like these at an inexpensive value, there’s no motive to not purchase them. Simply bear in mind that, as a result of they’re fairly frequent, it could take longer to promote them, and they’ll fetch considerably much less cash in comparison with extra beautiful designs.
Pamela Siegel is a contract author and creator who has been educating collectors for greater than 20 years. Along with three books on subjects referring to antiques and collectibles, she ceaselessly shares her experience by on-line writing and articles for print-based publications. Pamela can be the co-founder of Costume Jewellery Collectors Int’l (CJCI) and the proprietor of Stylish Antiques by Pamela.
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