Cameos, a Portrait

By Jen Smith
April 21, 2011

Cameos

Bottega Veneta Spring 2011 Milan Fashion Week (Photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)

Long before men could capture their likenesses through photography, they were carving images of themselves and the world around them on stones or shells and wearing them as talismans of bravery and romance. What we now call cameo jewelry—an engraved gem, shell or stone carved with a raised relief image, often of a woman's face—has gone in and out of fashion over the past half-century, and is having a moment once again.

For spring, Bottega Veneta sent models down the runway in easy neutrals, damp hair and layered cameo jewelry. Fashion folk in the know are once again eyeballing beautiful goth Whitby relics. Amedeo, the four-year-old cameo jewelry boutique on Manhattan's Upper East Side owned by Amedeo Scognamiglio, whose family has been making cameos in Italy for five generations, is bursting with cameo rings and cameo necklaces that we covet. And the recent news of director Tim Burton’s remake of the 1960'a cult classic gothic soap opera, "Dark Shadows", starring Johnny Depp as vampire Barnabas Collins, will be sure to reveal a piece of cameo jewelry or two, just like the original.

Cameos

Vintage photos with cameos jewelry from eBay online auctions: Victorian CDV Photo Cameo Necklace (buy it now price, $39.99); "Dark Shadows" Photo featuring a Cameo Ring (buy it now price, $14.95); Victorian CDV Photo with Cameo Necklace (buy it now price, $14.99)

eBay's online auctions are almost better than Grandma’s attic for sourcing these works of art. eBay listings of cameos in the jewelry category are up 13% and sales are up 9% in the past month (3/13-4/11) compared to the prior period.

Roll over items for details

Set of Six Victorian Lady Cameos

(buy it now price, $2.30)

English Vintage Cameo Brooch

(buy it now price, $179.36 )

Antique Style Shell Carved Cameo

(buy it now price $249.99)

Antique Marble Sculpture Portrait

(buy it now price, $895)

Antique Large Detailed Lava Cameo Gold Bracelet

(buy it now price, $2,980)

Fine Victorian Whitby Jet Cameo Brooche

(buy it now price, $692.96)

Vintage 18K Gold Cameo Bracelet

(buy it now price, $389)

Washington’s Legacy Cameo Fabric

(buy it now price, $9.75)

Sardonyx Cameo Gold Estate Ring

(buy it now price, $316)

Vintage Napoleon Cameo French Cufflinks

(buy it now price, $20)

Vintage Style Fairy Child's Cameo Bangle

(buy it now price, $8.99)

Milk Glass Cameo Pin

(buy it now price, $55.68)

Wedgewood Basalt Cup & Saucer with Clasisical Cameos

(starting bid price, $110)

Czech Large Cameo Painted Glass Button

(buy it now price, $3.70)

Vtg Estate 14K Habille Diamond Cameo Ring

(buy it now price, $199)

Victorian Hardstone Agate Full Body Cameo Stickpin 10k

(buy it now price, $89)

22 Vintage Cameos Old Stock

(starting bid, $9.99)

1. Set of Six Victorian Lady Cameos: Half a dozen Victorian lady cameos can be made into necklaces for all your friends—a clever bridesmaids gift for the vintage jewelry-loving bride.

2. English Vintage Cameo Brooch: The three graces adorn this beautiful vintage pin.

3. Antique Style Shell Carved Cameo: In the little town on Torre Del Greco at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius, the practice of hand carving cameos has been handed down from generation to generation. A brown and white striped sardonyx shell is the canvas for this vintage jewelry masterpiece.

4. Antique Marble Sculpture Portrait: The graphic silhouette craze for interiors is still going strong; here is an antique jewelry box likeness in antique marble.

5. Antique Large Detailed Lava Cameo Gold Bracelet: An amazing heirloom art piece depicting the Greek gods is a conversation starter and history lesson in one.

6. Vintage 18K Gold Cameo Bracelet: If a hardcore sentimental piece of cameo jewelry is too “precious,” try a subtle gold ID bracelet interpretation instead.

7. Fine Victorian Whitby Jet Cameo Brooche: Black jet or “black amber” mined from Whitby, England dates from the Jurassic Period, 182 million years ago. Antique cameos like this one are practically a uniform at the town's twice-yearly goth festival.

8. Washington’s Legacy Cameo Fabric: A repeating pattern of “Georges” will look great watching over the study or gazing at you from the couch.

9. Sardonyx Cameo Gold Estate Ring : At one time in ancient history, the sardonyx stone was more valuable than silver or gold. Tradition has it that Roman soldiers, seeking courage, wore cameos of Hercules and other war gods into battle.

10. Vintage Napoleon Cameo French Cufflinks: Napoleon Bonaparte and the Empress Josephine are said to have worn cameos all the time. Here is a Napoleonic touch for your French cuffs!

11. Vintage Style Fairy Child's Cameo Bangle: A brass bracelet with a wee fairy pictorial is a wonderful first jewelry piece for your favorite girly girl.

12. Milk Glass Cameo Pin: Cameos carved from glass are a more affordable—but no less beautiful—option than those made from shells and precious stones.

13. Wedgewood Basalt Cup and Saucer with Clasisical Cameos: Famed Victorian potter Josiah Wedgewood became fascinated with the black porcelain dating back to Etruscan times that was being excavated in Etruria, Italy. He duplicated it and “black basalt” became his first major commercial success. Who thought a cup of tea could be so gorgeously Goth?

14. Vtg Estate 14K Habille Diamond Cameo Ring: Since most every Victorian lady owned at least one cameo, diamond jewelers took advantage of that fact and promoted them by adding a little diamond to the engravings.

15. Czech Large Cameo Painted Glass Button: There are 9 more of these buttons plus other buttons in different colorways—a sweet touch scattered down a little girl’s frock.

16. Victorian Hardstone Agate Full Body Cameo Stickpin 10k: A stickpin is an understated way to wear a little antiquity.

17. 22 Vintage Cameos Old Stock: Set of vintage backstock cameos is a dream come true for the DIY jewelry maker.

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