We purchased this cameo at an antique store in New York for $96.00. Since it is my first cameo, I am excited to learn about them and appreciated your remarks. I am inspired to continue on a collection...Thank You!
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Antique Sardonyx Cameo by: Anonymous
Good Morning!
Your beautiful cameo that serves as a brooch or pendant is a testament to the incredible craftsmanship of the artist. Did you purchase from an auction site?
There is a lot to say about your cameo.
The Material:
The shell is called Sardonyx Shell. It is one of the rarest of the shell materials used for Cameo making.
The rich deep reddish cocoa colour and the white mid layer of the shell produce a striking colour contrast. This rich deep colour of the shell is hard to find even in the best modern sardonyx cameo carving. The shell is slow growing in comparison to other shells prevalent in the market and therefore not harvested in abundance.
The Cameo Subject features a young high society woman looking down with carefully detailed hair, decorated with a Tiara. Although the Tiara is usually associated with women of reigning and noble families, Tiaras have also been worn by commoners. It might be of interest to some viewers to note; Tiaras are common jewelry in Indian weddings.
During the Victorian Age Tiaras were being seen on non-blue blooded ladies of means. Tiaras are worn by women around their head or on the forehead as a circlet on very formal or high social occasions.
The Victorian era ended in 1901. I would date this cameo slightly later, within the Edwardian - Art Deco range.
