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Your cart is empty.Picture an antique cameo and the first image that probably pops into your mind is a woman's profile carved out of white shell against a coral background. That certainly describes a cameo, but cameos come in a much wider range of materials and designs. In fine jewelry, the cameo is defined as an ornament carved in relief from a high-quality material such as stone, shell, coral, Gutta-percha, bog oak, ivory, lava, or mother-of-pearl. In costume jewelry, cameos are generally made from molded plastic or glass. The most common cameo motif is the portrait. In the past, these bore the likeness of an actual person, usually a celebrity of the day—a ruler, scholar, or philosopher. Early in the 19th century, cameos started to feature an anonymous Roman woman wearing no jewelry. Victorian women on the Grand Tour—a traveling rite of passage for upper-class Europeans—sought out lava cameos carved with the mystery woman's image when they were in Italy. These affluent Victorians eventually had a big influence on cameos when they demanded a more familiar-looking lady, with a thinner neck, her hair up, and wearing jewelry. Vintage cameos also incorporated religious figures and scenes, floral motifs, and images from mythology. In particular, ancient Roman motifs have been popular for cameos since they first appeared during the reign of Alexander the Great, when they were made of agate, onyx, and sardonyx. In the salons of 18th-century Europe, carved gemstones were all the rage with high-society ladies. Cameo makers of the time would take Plaster of Paris molds of these carved gemstones as records of notable cameo collections. At the time, cameos were a sign of wealth and privilege, but glass paste brought cameos to the mainstream. Scottish artisan James Tassie began making molds of esteemed cameo collections to recreate the images as glass-plate cameos that could pass as carved jewels.
Karen Bell
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2023
I love it. I had one that was given to me by my mom and was stolen from me and it made me happy that I was able to find another one
Mrs Lum
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2023
To enhance a long gown with loveliness of a by- gone Era.
stylus
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2021
Please disregard my previous review. It was intended for a cartridge printer company. The cameo pin is beautiful.Nancy Dalquest
Helen Pietrinferno
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2019
very pleased with item Was looking for just this sort of cameo as part of a Halloween costume at such a reasonable price.
Patty G
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2019
I really like this beautiful pin. It's just the right size for my ruffled neck blouses.
Barbara A. Reinke
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2019
I love the cameo but not sure in the long run the pin and latch are going to hold up. But it was a nice top off for my 1860's historical gown. Nice price.
Customer
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2016
it's cheap, so it's okey
sj4
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2015
Poorly made. Could be pretty but the resin image does not fill the backing, so there are gaps that make it look cheap.
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