Does anyone know about vintage cameos?

E

essentialvintage

Registered Guest
Hello,

I recently acquired two cameo brooches. I am complete novice, so if anyone could help me out with the periods or suggestions of materials that would be brilliant!

The large one is very high relief full face, looks plastic made on a brass(?) frame. It measures approx 6cm x 5cm (including base) Looks very plasticy! The back has a c clasp and a loop for attaching to a chain. It is a bit kitsch, but that's why I like it.

The other is tiny (cameo measures approx 1.8cm a 1.4cm) and I am unsure of what it is made from. It looks as though it has been taken out of it's original mount and rather crudely glued to a brooch bar. When I tap it with my front teeth (a tip I read to do to try to discover the material) it does not make a dull sound akin to plastic..it makes a sharp sound, so it is made of something hard but i can't tell what.

Any help greatly received!

many thanks
 

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good morning ~

may we see the backs of your cameos, please? that can sometimes help ~ esp for jewelry items.

from the look of it, and from your description, it's possible your second, smaller cameo originally came from a ring, it would be about the right size. She is a beauty!

dating cameos can be difficult, they have gained and ebbed in popularity for many many years ~ you may want to check with your local library for jewelry books ~ personally, i love the book "Old Jewelry 1840-1950" (i have the 5th edition) by C. Jeanenne Bell; she has a section in the back of her book dedicated to cameos.
 
Hi Vintage Merchant!

Many thanks for your reply! I think you are right and the little one may have come from a ring. I have now posted a picture of the backs, hope it may help. The little one has been rather crudely glued on to a bar brooch that looks to small for it.

I wish I knew more about vintage costume jewellery, I am learning as I go along and I will definitely check out the book you mention!

Thanks again for replying.
 

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your first, larger one has a damascene look to it, with the fleur de lis pattern and black and gold work ~ i was hoping to see a Spain mark on the back, however there is not. the combination pendant/pins were typically 1960s at the latest, and were more popular much, much earlier. I really like the look of her ~ a bit kitschy, but charming, none the less.

If i owned the smaller one, I would be thrilled ~ without handling it, it's quite difficult to ascertain, however you might have a real treasure, there. That is one that I would either find a local antique jeweler to perhaps help identify it, and at the very least, would be scouring books having to do with cameos. it is a delight!
 
I recently read an article about how 'antique' jewellery was a fad in 1957-58 - cameos, lockets, etc. that looked inherited rather than bought, although they were brand new pieces.
 
The first cameo looks like a Victorian Revival piece, meant to imitate "taille d'epargne" enamelling (if you Google that term, you'll come up with lots of images to illustrate the technique!) I can see it as 50s, as Jonathan suggests, but also as earlier (maybe 40s?). I've never seen one quite like it, so I hope someone who has will come along soon!

If the second one has a "harder" than plastic feel to it, could it in fact be shell? I've owned cameo jewelry with tiny little shell cameos, with the cameo woman's features similar to this (that's actually a fairly reliable way to date!) It really does have a carved look to it, and is the right color for the raised portion of a cameo--perhaps the reason there's no darker "background" is because such a tiny/thin piece of shell was used?

Also, I've had these tiny cameos set in cufflinks, bracelets, and lockets--all from the 30s a nd 40s. And I do get a 40s vibe from t his gal!

There are some good tips on dating cameos in this tutorial at the Cameo Heaven website.
 
Thanks everyone for your kind replies, you have all really helped me. I will look up "taille d'epargne". I love that you are all so knowledgable and am happy to be learning from all of your collective experience!

I do believe the smaller one is shell now, after looking closely at it. What dissuaded me from this initially was the lack of the darker background as you point out carrie, however I believe that as you suggest, because it is such a tiny thin piece this is why there is no darker bit. I have seen other similarly tiny examples lacking the dark background. I also tried the 'hot needle' test to see if it would melt. It didn't and it is definitely carved. It is interesting that you say she has a 40s vibe as I did acquire it in a job lot of vintage jewellery, the majority of which is from the 40s! Although there were some older and newer items..but it certainly would fit with the majority of the items' heritage. However, as jonathan suggests it could still be a 60s piece made to look older and made to look antique!

I still haven't found another example like the bigger cameo yet! There must be more like it out there somewhere!

Thanks everyone you have each given me areas to research. I am very grateful!
 
Most of these Vintage Cameos are hand carved from the shell and then set into the metal frame, it can be silver or gold. Cameos are very much collectable pieces of vintage jewelleries of all time...
 
As far as the larger cameo, I agree with Carrie on Victorian Revival (I'm leaning towards '40s myself, although I could be wrong about that). I just picked up much less ornate one set into a belt buckle.

As far as the smaller one goes, I think that it did come from a ring. As far as the material, it could be carved from something like alabaster, rather than shell. I've seen a number of hard-stone cameos from the Victorian era, and the practice of using banded agates or even glass goes all the way back to ancient Rome. Queen Victoria was quite fond of cameos, so they became very popular during her reign. I second the suggestion to have an antique jewelry specialist check it out.

(I wish I could be more help, but -- despite the fact that I've collected antique jewelry since I could buy it at the flea market with my allowance money -- cameos are not really my thing. The buckle that I mentioned came it a grab bag with a Edwardian/early 20s filigree pin, and that was what I was after.) :)
 
Nice cameos. The first looks like a molded plastic/resin and agree that it's a revival piece. I see a later date on it (60's/70's).

The smaller carved shell cameo looks like an unmounted piece that someone cemented to a pinback -- and agree that it looks 40's/50's, and also a revival piece. Most shell cameos up until this time would be purchased alone, to be mounted at one's local jeweler.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies! This is the best forum I have found for researching vintage accessories, all of your comments are much appreciated :)
 
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