Ancient Beauties

I have learned to fall for vintage jewelries. One classic beauty is CAMEO jewelry. The earliest known use of shell cameo carving was during the Renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries. Before that time, cameos were carved from hard stones. Stone cameos of great artistry were made in Greece dating back as far as the 6th century. Today, the great gemstone carving center of the world is Idar-Oberstein, Germany, famous for their gemstone and agate carvings. This type of carvings is much more difficult because of its hardness of gemstones and agates. Stone cameos are very resistant to chipping and will not peel, crack, fade or discolor with age, making these type of cameos as an "Investment". Shell was not used until a much later date. Shells became extremely popular and eventually the art of cameo carving. Today, the center of shell cameos lies in a small town of Torre de Greco, located at the Bay of Naples. Fake cameos have also been around since ancient times. These are referred to cameos that are not carved from a single stone, but from several stones glued together.

Coral cameos were popular during the Victorian era as a symbol of good luck.

Ivory

Marble

Wedgewood Cameos

If you are looking for a classic cameo collection at an affordable price, visit the Robin's Nest.