40s beaded cameo necklace--is it stone? coral? what?
- Thread starter cmpollack
- Start date
Pinkcoke
Alumni
As I understand it, a cameo would be made in shell purposefully to carve through multiple layers to show the two-tone look you often find in these pieces - i.e. a dark pink background and a white relief design.
Looking at your cameo, it would either have to be an extremely thick shell - or it's made of something else.
Also, I wouldn't expect shell to have a 'gritty' feel - that sounds more like stone or composite.
I don't know anything about the usage and dating regarding this; but have you considered bone or ivory?
Does the pink shading on some of the beads feature in the cameo as well? It's hard to tell from the picture.
Looking at your cameo, it would either have to be an extremely thick shell - or it's made of something else.
Also, I wouldn't expect shell to have a 'gritty' feel - that sounds more like stone or composite.
I don't know anything about the usage and dating regarding this; but have you considered bone or ivory?
Does the pink shading on some of the beads feature in the cameo as well? It's hard to tell from the picture.
cmpollack
VFG Member
Hi Pinkcoke, and thanks for taking a look!
Yes, the pinkish/white coloration is present in the cameo as well as the beads, so the same substance has been used to make both. I'm certain it's not bone or ivory--I've handled/seen so many examples of them, and this is very different.
I'm fairly certain it's not shell, and very dubious it's glass either. Both the density/weight and texture (almost chalky...) seem wrong for either of those.
My first hunch was some type of stone, though I couldn't think of which might have this coloration, and then I wondered if perhaps it could be angelskin coral, which I don't have much experience with, though I know it does have a pinkish/white color to it.
Yes, the pinkish/white coloration is present in the cameo as well as the beads, so the same substance has been used to make both. I'm certain it's not bone or ivory--I've handled/seen so many examples of them, and this is very different.
I'm fairly certain it's not shell, and very dubious it's glass either. Both the density/weight and texture (almost chalky...) seem wrong for either of those.
My first hunch was some type of stone, though I couldn't think of which might have this coloration, and then I wondered if perhaps it could be angelskin coral, which I don't have much experience with, though I know it does have a pinkish/white color to it.
vivavintageclothing
VFG Member
Carrie, I agree, the beads do look like the angelskin coral I have seen, so it would make sense if the cameo were of the same material.
This is very pretty.
I have a small collection of early cameos that I need to research. I haven't been able to find any websites devoted to cameos, does anyone know of any good ones out there?
They are in a category all to themselves.
I have a small collection of early cameos that I need to research. I haven't been able to find any websites devoted to cameos, does anyone know of any good ones out there?
They are in a category all to themselves.
Caryn, you posted links to a couple of selling sites. That is not allowed. You can post links to information, such as certain blogs or museums, newspaper articles etc...
Ahhh..I understand...my apologies. It was only my intention to show other examples of angelskin coral. Thank you for the explanation. I won't do that again. ;)
but Here is how to test to find out if it is Coral;
The first step in determining if a piece of jewelry is real or fake is its weight. Real coral jewelry is heavier than imitations.
Put your jewelry piece in a small ceramic bowl and cover it with cow's milk.
Leave the jewelry in the milk at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours. If the coral jewelry is real, it will color the milk. If the piece is fake, the whiteness of the milk will remain unchanged.
Another test is to place a drop or two of nitric acid or lemon juice on an inconspicuous place, like the back of a particular piece of jewelry. If the coral is real, the spot will effervesce and form tiny bubbles on its surface.
I just want to post the resource below where I found this. I hope it is ok:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5784749_tell-coral-jewelry-real.html
Hope that helps more, Caryn
but Here is how to test to find out if it is Coral;
The first step in determining if a piece of jewelry is real or fake is its weight. Real coral jewelry is heavier than imitations.
Put your jewelry piece in a small ceramic bowl and cover it with cow's milk.
Leave the jewelry in the milk at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours. If the coral jewelry is real, it will color the milk. If the piece is fake, the whiteness of the milk will remain unchanged.
Another test is to place a drop or two of nitric acid or lemon juice on an inconspicuous place, like the back of a particular piece of jewelry. If the coral is real, the spot will effervesce and form tiny bubbles on its surface.
I just want to post the resource below where I found this. I hope it is ok:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5784749_tell-coral-jewelry-real.html
Hope that helps more, Caryn
cmpollack
VFG Member
Never heard of the cow's milk test, Caryn, but I have heard of the nitric acid or lemon juice test (I hate using nitric acid to test jewelry because it leaves a mark...) I need to go dig out my "What is it Made of?" booklet by Sherry Shatz and see what her advice is...
Tiffany--don't know of any educational websites on cameos, but Cameo Heaven has some great examples grouped by period. The owner of that website is quite knowledgeable and actually does appraisals (she was able to help me ID a weird married piece that combined teens and 30s elements).
Both Anna Miller's "Cameos Old and New":
http://www.amazon.com/Cameos-Old-An...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311557924&sr=1-1
and Monica Clements' "Cameos: Classical to Costume":
http://www.amazon.com/Cameos-Classi...=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311557924&sr=1-2
are very helpful!
Tiffany--don't know of any educational websites on cameos, but Cameo Heaven has some great examples grouped by period. The owner of that website is quite knowledgeable and actually does appraisals (she was able to help me ID a weird married piece that combined teens and 30s elements).
Both Anna Miller's "Cameos Old and New":
http://www.amazon.com/Cameos-Old-An...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311557924&sr=1-1
and Monica Clements' "Cameos: Classical to Costume":
http://www.amazon.com/Cameos-Classi...=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311557924&sr=1-2
are very helpful!
MyVintageCocktail
VFG Member
That's a lovely piece, Carrie! And, just off the top of my head, I'd concur with angelskin coral, too. The cameo doesn't look like a shell cameo, so if it's made of the same substance as the beads, and the beads are a natural material, which they look like to me, the angelskin coral looks like a good deduction!
I know Sherry Schatz's test is the same as the one Caryn mentioned for coral. I know almost nothing about cameo's so have no idea what yours is made of, Carrie. It sounds from the clues that it might be angelskin coral.
I have this little brooch - that I should sell -(had it for 8 years and have never worn it) - I'm pretty sure is angelskin:
I have this little brooch - that I should sell -(had it for 8 years and have never worn it) - I'm pretty sure is angelskin:
thanks for the info Carrie...will check them out!