Sardonyx Hardstone or Shell? by: Yvonne Hammouda-Eyre
There is some confusion in relation to Sardonyx in Cameo making. Sardonyx is a hardstone, a variety of layered onyx with brownish red carnelian alternating with lighter colours of onyx. Pseudo Sardonyx is Shell which is a similar colour to its Sardonyx hardstone brother.
An example of Sardonyx Hardstone Cameo can be viewed in the following link.
http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/File:99.101-37-3.jpg
Mel is your lovely cameo hardstone or shell?
There is lots to talk about concerning your cameo and the beautiful Etruscan Revival piece. Thanks for the clearer photo! I have the weekend free so will post some little comments this weekend.
Best Regards Yvonne
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Sardonyx Cameo in High Relief by: Anonymous
Really nice looking cameo and interesting subject. I'm also intrigued by your sardonyx cameo being in very high relief like that. Maybe this is why the Sardonyx is the most valuable of the shell cameo. Unlike most Hard-stone cameos that lay almost flat within their setting, the convex shape of shell enables the subject to "pop" from their metal surroundings. Stone cameos unlike the shell are also flat on their underside. Very Nice Cameo Mel!
John
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True Antique Cameo are made from Hard Stone such as Sardonyx by: Yvonne Hammouda-Eyre
Hi Mel
i agree, Sardonyx antique cameo is very stylish and very beautiful but unfortunately not in focus although clearly portrays a scene of greek classical antiquity. In Ancient Greek art the human being was the mirror image of how the Greeks actually saw themselves or rather how they wanted to be. Ancient Greek archetypes of archaic sculpture are the "kouros" and the "kore", the depiction, respectively, of a comparatively naked young man and a sumptuously attired young woman. The clothing that enveloped the body signalled membership of the upper class. Please more details, is there one woman on the cameo?
The metal frame is of interest not only because of the Greek key Design but the metal is stamped "Britannia" Britannia metal or Britannium is a pewter-type alloy favoured for its silvery appearance and smooth surface. It was first produced in 1770. One notable use of Britannium today is to make the Oscar statuettes handed out each year at the Academy Awards. They are then plated in gold.
Cameos that were later produced in the 18th and 19th centuries, and were mostly brooches and most of the 19th century cameos were carved from shell.True cameos were carved from semi precious stones such as Agate, Onyx (Sardonyx is a variant of Onyx) and Carnelian.
