CAMEO JEWELRY

What is more classic and timeless than a cameo? Though they pre-date the Victorian era, for the travel-loving Victorians a cameo was a favorite, possibly representing a meaningful souvenir of a Grand European Tour. Both men and women wore cameos set as necklaces, brooch, rings and earrings for women, and watch fobs, rings and stick pins for men. The Victorian fascination with all things historic is demonstrated in the classical Greek profiles and mythological motifs. Reflecting the Victorians love of gardening and nature, floral cameos were also popular. Carved in seashell, ivory, lava, stone, and jet, cameos could be set in precious or non-precious metals, some wealthy patrons even had their own likenesses done.
Although thought of as primarily an Italian art, there were also cameo carvers in America and other countries. Cameos remained popular into the 20th century and were even fashioned using "new" materials of the 30s and 40s, Bakelite and Lucite.
 

CAMEO habillé brooch with diamond necklace, Classically carved profile with roses in her hair and on her shoulder in a filigree setting, circa 1900. There is a flip-up pendant loop on the back, an unusually large size at 2-5/8" by 2" with 1/3" loop. Two tiny leaves are missing on the frame but it is difficult to notice.   View   View  #U25403

   VICTORIAN Bohemian garnets hinged bangle set with a portrait cameo of George Gordon, Lord Byron (English Romantic poet and personality, 1788-1824). This unusual cameo bracelet is a lovely combination of garnets and shell cameo.   View   View   View   View  View   View   #V29484 

     CAMEO gold tone swivel brooch with a carved sea shell cameo on the front and a memorial hair compartment on the back, circa 1880, 2". The frame in which it is set has a lovely scroll design.  View   #Q28120   

VICTORIAN ivory cameo brooch with full lady's face, well mellowed over the years to this lovely creamy color, 2" by 1-1/2". The long curls are accented by the roses in her hair. It is a classic profile which is not marred by the striation of ivory grain that is visible at the right side of her face. The twist design frames her beautifully and is typical of this style. According to Rowan in "Nineteenth Century Cameos" page 122, the French were the makers of most ivory cameos and cherubs and this is probably from Dieppe, France, where most of the carving took place.   View   View   View   #V33546

VICTORIAN ivory cameo of full face angel or child, 1". This is loose and ready to set in your own ring or pendant. According to Rowan in "Nineteenth Century Cameos", the French were the makers of most ivory cameos and cherubs.   View   View   #V33721

VICTORIAN ivory cherub pendant, 2-3/4". The expression is beautiful, the detail amazing and the original delicate loop is still present. The patina is lovely. According to Rowan in "Nineteenth Century Cameos", the French were the makers of most ivory cameos and cherubs.    View   #V33719

 CAMEO 14k white gold set cameo habille with tiny pink enameled butterflies on each of the four corners of the filigree frame, three small diamonds on the necklace, circa 1900, 1-7/8" by 1-1/2". The sea shell cameo is a well carved lady with roses in her hair and on her dress.  It also was featured in Southeastern Antiquing & Collecting Magazine, August 2003.   View   #U14728 

    CAMEO  habille brooch of a lady with flowers in her hair and on her shoulder with aqua blue enameled butterflies on each side of the14k white gold filigree setting and a diamond necklace, circa 1900, 1-7/8".   View   View  #U23999 

   CAMEO  habille  brooch of a lady with flowers set in 14k white gold filigree with aqua enameled butterflies and a diamond bow necklace, circa 1900.  View   #UAC

  EDWARDIAN 14k white gold filigree cameo habillé brooch with diamond necklace, four emeralds and an enameled fan at the bottom of the setting, with a swivel bale on the back so it can be worn as a pendant, marked "14k" on catch, 1-3/4".   View   #V34623

   CAMEO white gold filigree cameo habille with unusually styled diamond necklace and enameled flowers brooch, circa 1920, 1-7/8".   View   View   #Q28563

CAMEO Flora set in 10k yellow gold, a lovely full face Queen Conch shell cameo that is very deeply carved with the hair beautifully fashioned of rose blooms, gold twist mount, 1-1/2" by 1-1/8" and 1/2" deep. A similar cameo can be seen on page 76 of Rowan's "Nineteenth Century Cameos".    View   View   View   #U20324  

VICTORIAN 10 karat set large cameo brooch, a Bacchante woman's profile with grapes in her hair, set in 10k yellow gold, 2" by 2-1/2", with guard chain. The setting has a scalloped edge with beaded trim, simple and lovely.     View   View   #V34615   $395.00

VICTORIAN spectacular 15 carat yellow gold and shell figural cameo brooch, the Three Muses (or Three Graces) and Cherub or Cupid with harp, set wrapped in a snake with two tiny diamond eyes and an amazing pierced and decorated gallery , circa 1870, 15k yellow gold, rare, unusual and beautifully carved, a large 2-3/4" by 2-5/8". The Victorians considered the snake a symbol of eternal love.   View   View   View   View   View   #V34686

VICTORIAN 10 karat yellow gold and Classical shell cameo brooch of Greek goddess Artemis, a woman with bow and arrow, goddess of forests and hills, fertility and the hunt.  The brooch is 2-1/8" by 1-3/4". There are two small reinforcements to the setting which can be seen only on the back of the frame.  View   #V34616   $295.00

 VICTORIAN cameo brooch with lovely lady wearing flowers set in 14k yellow gold with seed pearls edging the frame, circa 1900, loop on the back so it can also be worn as a pendant.   View   View   #U4001

  CAMEO in 14k yellow gold twist setting. The lady has an anchor motif at her shoulder and a star in her hair, circa 1910. My Grandfather bought it for Grandmother Agnes when he was stationed in Italy during WWI.   View    #Q34648

    CAMEO lovely lady wearing flower garland and a strand of pearls, set in 14k yellow gold.  My Grandfather bought it for Grandmother Agnes when he was stationed in Italy during WWI.    #Uagnes1

CAMEO 10k yellow gold filigree shell cameo brooch with pendant loop on the back, 2".  View   View   #Q50644

VICTORIAN cameo ring with warrior profile,14 karat yellow gold "H.B. to L.F." and "14", size 8. Even the band has a detailed and lovely design.   View   View   View     #V62782

VICTORIAN Bacchante cameo set in 9 carat yellow gold, marked "9ct" and "WHW Ld" on the back, 2" by 1-3/4", stable internal crack visible only when back lit.   View   View    #V34732 

   THREE GRACES shell cameo. The Greek goddesses Euphrosyne, Aglaia, and and Thalia, representative of gentleness and refinement. This cameo set in 18 karat yellow gold belonged to my husband's grandmother, and was purchased in  Italy during WWII, circa 1940.   View   View      #Ualma

Grandmother Alma wearing her large three graces cameo.   View   #Ualma2

     FLORAL bouquet shell cameo in a 14 karat yellow gold setting.   View   View   #U20323

     CAMEO style purple glass pate de verre brooch in an intricate and artistic silver 2-1/2" setting, circa 1900. The setting is fashioned so that it cleverly holds the high-relief cameo without prongs.  View  View   View   View    #V19519  

  CAMEO purple glass cameo pendant set in gold with black enameling in a Greek Key design.    View   View   #Q27565

    CAMEO purple glass cameo brooch with silver twist setting and flowers, leaves and pearl tiara décor in hair, star earrings and a simple necklace, 2".   View   #Q28484

       STERLING and coral cameo lorgnette with an ornate highly embossed floral motif, shallow dent on handle, 5-1/4".   View   View   View   View   #A28049

  CAMEO gold tone 3/4" shell cameo set into a 7-1/2" by 3/4" hinged bangle with etched black motif.   View   View   #Q28030 

     CAMEO brooch of lady with flowers in her hair, circa 1930, 2-1/4".  View   #Q26364

VICTORIAN large cameo of a Bacchante or Maenad, well carved, stable crack from chin to frame, set in gold oval brooch with safety chain, 2-1/3" by 2".   View   View   #V31375

VICTORIAN shell cameos bracelet set in yellow gold filled hollow links, seven cameos on seven links, 6-1/2" by 1-1/3".   View   View   View   #V32049

VICTORIAN shell cameo of a lady in a landscape set in a gold washed etched and pierced silver brooch which I had professionally converted from a buckle (see back) to a more wearable brooch, 3-1/4" by 3". This is a wonderful dramatic size and frame as well as a lovely scene, a lady posing beside a bridge.   View   #V32050

VICTORIAN lava cameo brooch, an unusual full face lovely Bacchante looking over her shoulder, set in yellow gold with pendant loop on back, beautifully carved, 1-5/8" by 1-1/3".   View   View   #V32045

VICTORIAN lava cameo brooch, lovely lady with leaves in her hair in the unusual full-face style, extremely deeply carved and set in yellow gold, features slightly worn with age, 1-3/4" by 1-1/2". A similar piece can be seen on page 140 of Bell's "Collecting Victorian Jewelry".    View   View   #V32046

VICTORIAN lava cameo brooch, unusual left-facing profile of a Bacchante with grapes in her hair set in a lovely etched silver frame, 2" by 1-3/4". Beautifully and deeply carved.    View   View   #V32047

VICTORIAN unset lava cameo, 1-1/4" by 1-1/8".    #V32321

VICTORIAN unset lava cameo, 1-5/8" by 1-1/4".   #V32322

VICTORIAN unset lava cameo.   #V32321x

    LAVA CAMEO Victorian lava cameo face of a Bacchante bar pin, 10k white and yellow gold filigree, 2".   View   View   View   #V50471

    VICTORIAN lava cameo pendant with face of a Bacchante, 1", shown with coordinating bar pin.   View   View   View    #V50472

   VICTORIAN  lava cameo pendant with lady profile, 1".  View   #V25960

  VICTORIAN Wedgwood-style brooch with scalloped gold filled frame, unidentified signature on the back, 1-5/8".  View   View   #V28210

  VICTORIAN 14k yellow gold set shell cameo brooch of a house scene, 1-3/4".   View   #Q29662

   CAMEO deeply carved stemmed rose cameo in gold setting.  View   #Q26363   

VICTORIAN mother and child. The child holds a small purse and the mother has a vulcanite comb in her hair. The mother wear a book chain necklace with cameos and both wear fancy lace collars.

    VICTORIAN gold filled ornate book chain criss-cross necklace with hard stone cameo, 18" with 2-1/3" front drop, circa 1880. See Christie Romero's "Warman's Jewelry, Edition 2" page 55.  View   #V27342

  Victorian photograph of a young girl wearing an ornate book chain criss-cross necklace with a cameo, circa 1890.

   14K yellow gold cameo ring.  View  #G26362

  CAMEO ring with a long oval shape that is so flattering on the finger. This may represent the Greek goddess Luna or Diana, goddess of the moon, often shown with a moon and sometimes, with stars, circa 1910.    View    View #G22928

   CAMEO oval ring with marcasites surround, size 6-3/4.   View  #Q26303  

   CAMEO Victorian cameo set in gold filled scroll decorated oval with safety chain, 2-1/3".   View   #Q29145

CAMEO Victorian shell cameo stick pin, 7/8" on 3" stick.   View   View   #Q28863   

CAMEO in silver filigree setting brooch, 1-1/2".   View   #Q26225