Vintage Shell Cameo Signed

Beautiful vintage shell cameo mounted in an openwork floral frame. The carving on this is very detailed. It features a young woman with downcast eyes and a floral corsage on her shoulder. This is signed on the frame but very difficult to read NC? Co. This came from an estate.

The term cameo originally meant carving a design into a single material in bas-relief. They were usually done using shell, stone or other material. Indications are that cameos were first carved in the 15th or 16th century where the subject matter was derived from the Greek and Roman period.  However, popularity flourished during the reign of Queen Victoria. Later cameos were mass produced and molded using celluloid, bakelite, lucite and newer resins. Popular now are laser made cameos because of their intricate detail and color combinations.



Intaglio jewelry is reverse cut from a cameo , cut from the back and sometimes highlighted with handpainting, enamels or other colored glass or gemstone.

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