Cleaning the cameo so that you can see the signature is a good idea. This signature (if recorded) will be diagnostic for dating purposes.
Cleaning Steps: 1. You will need a shallow dish - never clean in a sink as an unstable plug could lead to a disaster! Presoak your cameo beauty here.
What You Need:
2. Soft bristle toothbrush to remove dirt from your cameo with no abrasion.
3. Mild detergent or baby shampoo.
4. Lint-free cloth - like those used for cleaning glasses are perfect.
Steps:
Step 1. Remove any fibers affixed to the prongs of the settings and surround with tweezers.
Step 2. Place the cameo in a mild solution of detergent and water then scrub lightly with the toothbrush, changing angles as you go.
Step 3. Rinse carefully in fresh water and finally, dry and buff with a soft dry lint-free cloth.
Thank you for the image of your cameo, which as you already suspect, is probably not an antique cameo.
It could be a Victorian Cameo Revival piece. Victorian Revival jewelry were key looks in the decade of the 1960s. There is a a way to test if it's genuine shell or composite cameo material, but clean the cameo first and check the signature again under loupe magnification. Don't forget to update us!
