-
Search within Results
-
Content-Type
-
Collection
-
Coral Earrings, about 1910
These are odd earrings- they are very poorly carved and are very low quality cameos.The setting into which they've been placed seems makeshift and perhaps even a repair or replacement.It seems plausible that these are early twentieth century souvenir pieces from Italy.
-
Brooch and Earring Set, about 1870
Coral was a popular material in jewelry making for many years.This particular piece incorporates coral with fairly inexpensive gold plated silver.Bigger brooches and long earrings were popular in the second half of the 19th century, until they fell out of favor because they could easily rip the lace collars and bodices that became popular in the 1880's.
-
Cameo Bracelet, about 1860
Cameos were traditionally carved from stone as carvers carefully worked in layers of agate, cutting away lower layers of color and leaving, in relief, layers of white or ivory colored strata.It is difficult and expensive work.In the early nineteenth century Italian carvers began carving cameos from shell, working the strata to leave white layers in relief on the cameo.This shell cameo carving reduced the price of cameos somewhat. The fineness of some of the best shell cameo cutters rivals those …
-
Cameo Pin, about 1860
Cameos were generally cut from stone until the nineteenth century when shell cameos were found to be lovely and affordable.Many were cut en cameo with images of the ancients, although medieval images were also popular.This one is interesting in that it may allude to the rescue of a sailor, as the angel holds an anchor while pointing in a direction of a flailing man.Perhaps this commemorates a sea rescue.
-
Cameo Pin, about 1860
Cameos traditionally were cut in stone; however, Italian carvers found a way to make these exquisite shell cameos in the early nineteenth century.This is an interesting depiction of an angel guiding a child as he walks near a serpent, which often symbolized temptation. It is likely an allusion to a child being guided by God on the right path.