Featured CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

There is a mark on this and I have been working on trying to see it. It is difficult. I think it might be: first letter M second letter not sure E or K third letter A. will upload file soon.

 

Never thought I'd be posting here as cameos aren't my area of interest but this caught my eye last minute at today's carboot! I haven't had a chance to polish the back so no marks as of yet and very light, similar examples say resin? I couldn't capture the back very clearly but it says Western Germany. With only the knowledge of a few pictures and comments from my occasional lurks here I felt like she was nicely carved at any rate (unless she's molded? I wouldnt know lol) so the 2 euros was well spent. Thanks for looking. ​

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I call this one Ponytail Girl, the second most reproduced cameo after headband Girl. I think they both originated in W. Germany. This one is molded resin - you would be able to tell better if you could see the back, which will be flat, not curved, in very convincing colors. Unlike HG, PG does turn up sometimes in shell. I even once saw her in lapis.



She's such a popular image even people carving cameos by hand have adopted her.

 

oh how pretty she is in lapis! Okay so she's molded, interesting thank you! I find her hairstyle interesting, as she does have some sort of head band on also, but then just by all appearances a random bit of hair sticking out! A few listings I saw when I looked her up dated their cameos to the 50s, and those had the same back, though different frames. Is it possible to narrow down a date for this one a little or is 1949-1991/2 as good as we're going to get? Also any tips for getting that mark off her hair? I don't want to ruin her.

 

I don't think ponytails were a fashion look prior to the late 50s, & she can't be any older than her hairstyle. The cameo itself is still being produced, judging by the number of them on the market, but the way yours is mounted says she is from the earlier end of the range.

Hmm. Looks like ink, which is a real problem when it is on shell. But this is plastic, so could survive more aggressive cleaning. I think the first thing I would try is toothpaste rubbed in vigorously with your thumb. If you have a whitening one all the better. Take care when rinsing off not to let water run into the setting & do not submerse.

If that fails, look around & see what you have for removing heavy dirt & stains. It would be really hard to hurt the cameo; the mount needs more careful treatment. I would actually try something like Fantastik, applied with a swab, again with vigorous rubbing using the swab.

Just try to keep the cleaning localized & be careful about getting water into the setting. Other than that, you can try almost anything. Perhaps not things like Scrubbing Bubbles.

If you succeed, let us know how.

 

Not mine, but I'm curious as to what painting this cameo may be after. Appears to be a Roman battle. I thought it would be an easy search due to the soldier/victor seated on a tree stump but my search terms have come up with nothing.
LOL, looks like the one guy is tying his shoe!
Pity about the crack that goes through the background.

 

New one on me. The more I look at it, the stranger it gets. If I knew my ancient & mythological history it would probably come to me. Alas...

 

Three laurel wreaths are being held up in the background. Not facing toward the apparent leader in the middle, but toward the small figure at the upper left. That seems odd, too.

 

Why am I thinking Ares and Aphrodite in the middle?
Or...the Trojan War, and Paris and Helen of Troy?

 

Anyone else see a ewer sitting on a kitchen counter beneath the arm of the foremost member of the ring toss team?

There's sure to be a painting this is after. Wonder if the painter went to as many pains to make sure none of the men is fully exposed as the cutter of the cameo did. The central figure appears to be sitting on a tree stump, his shield on his left arm, his sword in his right hand, & something upright in front of him with no visible means of support that keeps him modest.

 

Looks like a pitcher on a solid cube-shaped item. I wouldn't call it a "kitchen counter" on a battlefield.

 

Joke? The cube is nearly as incongruous in that setting. There's another, larger, cube to its left with something that looks like a lantern on it.

 

An educational/eye training post.

2 x French Antique Rings - 18ct Gold - Sapphire - Agate Cameo Femme - c.1890



Cameos that look like this, with 3 discrete layers of white, lavender & red are French glass made to look like banded agate of this type:


The clean separation of the layers & the vivid shade of lavender are the markers for glass.

 

Interesting... If you mentioned that earlier I hadn't picked up on it. Thank you.

 

No, I think this is the first time it came up since no one has come along showing off their new hardstone cameo who had to be informed it was really glass. I just saw this listing & thought it would be instructive to show it.

When not chipped up, the French glass cameos are beautiful in their own right.

 

Thank you for all your tips! I was waiting to reply until I got around to cleaning her but honestly I'm not sure when thats going to be. I will definitely keep you posted though when I do manage to get it off!

 

Thank you for taking the time to look at my cameo. I do not have any knowledge in this area, and any information would be appreciated. There is a mark on the part that holds the pin in place that is imprinted "14K". Perhaps, there is another mark for the maker/company but I can't find it.

 

From the lady with a corsage & the type of clasp, would put this to 1920s - early 30s. White gold was very popular in that period. She is cut in helmet shell, no doubt in Italy (probably mounted elsewhere) & does not represent anyone other than a pretty fantasy lady.

 

Thank you for this information Bronwen. It is really amazing that you discern so much information simply by looking at it. I am trying to find out if it is valuable eg rough estimate of its worth, and I did a google and ebay search using the search terms: "cameo cut in helmet shell Italy, white gold, 14k 1920s - early 30, .4.5 grams". The prices were quite varied. Any suggestions for my search terms would be appreciated. Filigree?
I noticed that a differentiating point was whether it was hand carved. Is there any way to tell if mine is hand carved?

 

Yes, yours is hand carved, but that is not rare. The value of your brooch lies mainly in the gold setting. Do an eBay advanced search for sold listings using '14k white gold cameo' for search terms. This will give you an idea of what similar pieces have sold for.