Interesting Facts, History & Tips About Cameos

A cameo consists of two layers: A raised figure or scene and a background.

The oldest known cameo was found in Alexandria (Egypt), dates to the 3rd century B.C. and was carved from agate.

Miniature works of art...Cameos were often used as "pictures" of ancient rulers.

Traditional cameos were carved from sardonyx or carnelian shell. Now they incorporate materials such as agate, lava, jet, ivory, celluoid, Bakelite, resin, glass, and plastic.

A shell cameo proves translucent when held to light and has a curved back. Examine details such as facial features (especially the nose), hair styles, body shape (Barbie-doll clones didn't exist before the middle of the 20th century), clothing, and pin or clasp styles to assist with dating a cameo.

Mass produced cameos are generally "molded" and not carved.

Italian craftsmen invented the original cameo carving tool, the bullino, in the early 1800s.

Victorian women considered a cameo carved in their personal likeness a prized possession.

Cameos were favored jewelry of rulers such as Catherine the Great, Queen Victoria, Emperor Napolean and his wife Josephine.

From the Civil War to the World War II era, cameos were the most popular pieces of jewelry most women owned.

A cameo habille included jewelry with miniature precious stones worn by the carved likeness, and was popular in the late 19th century.

In the late 20th century German artists developed a laser techinque to produce stone cameos.

Torre Del Greco, a town near Mt. Vesusius in Italy, is the Cameo Capital of the world.

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