“Wonder Woman” is even better with more detail, and a much more difficult presentation of the subject-full-face portraits are always much more difficult than silhouettes. The carving begins to have real personality. ![]() In the ring, the carving is softer and more fluid. Overall, I would rate this carving quality as a “journeyman” rather than “master.”Ĭompare this Art Nouveau coral cameo ring and the “Wonder Woman” coral brooch. ![]() The strokes that frame and define the border are workmanlike rather than beautiful. Sharp edges define the face, where a more refined carving would show softer more realistic depiction. Careful examination show that while the composition of the piece may be pleasing, the execution is rather flat. Photo #1 shows a large shell cameo, with a common subject, a portrait of a lady. By quality of the carving, I mean three things.įirst, the actual carving itself should be detailed, refined and lifelike. My number one tip for judging cameos is to look at the quality of the carving. A carving industry developed in the Italian seaside village of Torre del Greco near Naples, which remains the center for shell cameo carvings. Layered types of shell have been used commonly since the mid 18th century, although some examples date to the Renaissance. For the most part, the materials used for cameos and intaglios are chosen for beauty and suitability rather than value. Inexpensive intaglios are cut from hematite, sometimes referred to as “Black Diamond” for its high luster. Cameos (and Intaglios) carved from agate and similar materials are commonly categorized as “hardstone” as opposed to the softer shell and coral pieces. Precious corals and other softer ornamental materials have also been used for the artist’s palette. The most common cameo materials in today’s world are natural shell with contrasting color layers, a relatively soft material derived from large sea “snails” such as the helmet shell and related species and layered agate, a much harder stone comprised of cryptocrystalline quartz which has contrasting color layers (usually dyed to enhance the color contrast of the layers). Intaglios are more utilitarian, most often seen in “signet” type rings where the carving would be only be shown in relief after being impressed into sealing wax or similar materials. Cameos are more often seen in jewelry objects where the beauty of the piece is foremost, the carved subject being much more visual and accessible. ![]() Cameos are carvings of gem materials in which the subject carved is in positive relief from the base of the cameo, as opposed to Intaglios, where the subject is carved negatively (into the surface of the gem material).
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