Silver and Resin/Bakelite? Cameo

This was in the bottom of a group lot, and I can't seem to find much else like it so any thoughts are appreciated. Marked 925 and tests as silver, no other marks, just some specs around the frame. The cameo seems to be some form of man made material, possibly bakelite or a resin type plastic, chrome cleaner on a qtip goes brown when rubbed on the orange bits. The dark patination is added, it's not from age - the whole cameo may have been sprayed with it then polished back to give the effect. Unfortunately it has a closed back so I can't really scratch/gouge at the material. Regular rollover safety catch on the back. 5cm by 4cm in size.

Interestingly there are lots of undercuts and through detail in the cameo, so not sure what moulding process could be used, you certainly couldn't do it with a metal mould or injection moulding, would need to be something like silicon although detail looks to fine for this type of mould.

Any ideas on age/location/manufacturing process? Tia

 

frame is nice.....& they want ya to know it's all sterling

 

Yep, they were even considerate enough to do it both ways so you don't even need to rotate to read!

 

@Bronwen

 

See there on Bronwen's post:
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/gatierre-danbiere-other-mysteries.50875/

 

Many thanks, so then we don't know who, when or where unless I am missing something? I did search for resin cameos but didn't pick up on the Antiquers thread, can't have quite got the right search terms. The background is smooth on this one and not ridged.

 

She's definitely molded and glued into the frame. That rules out bakelite right from the jump. Too late for celluloid, the construction says 1980s or even later, so odds are acrylic or some sort of resin.

 

Oh, believe me, they're out there. (Not my hand.)

Whoever this was went to pains to obscure their true origin & actively mislead buyers. As fakes go, they're very high quality, &, as you see, were put into good quality settings.

It just crossed my mind to wonder if they have anything to do with the guy who, with his wife, started Incolay Studios. He was a polymer chemist. Incolay 'stone' is very tough, while the material of these cameos & the little boxes is brittle. An earlier formula? The quality is there, yet I can't see them putting on the made up names & unrelated medallions found on the plaques. On the other hand, I can really see him as the source of the very convincing faux marbre used for the plaques.

For me it's more than a head scratcher; it's a teeth grinder.

 

Thanks, I think it's because I didn't have the right terms to search for. Wondering if the maker was just interested in the production process and others turned them into fakes, the one I have doesn't seem to have had a name plaque or deceptive naming.

Could they be very new? Reason for asking is the ridge lines are typical of 3d resin printers - and that process may be capable of all the unusual features such as the undercuts - there are even pierced sections in the hair. This would seem very difficult to do by moulding.

 

Thanks for putting in the link. I had forgotten about that fascinating discussion!

 

An interesting thought. I have to think not. One reason, the findings on some of them:



Another is the sensibility behind the choice of designs. Who today would turn to the bronze medallions of Edward William Wyon or the ivories of Duquesnoy used for many of the plaques made by this operation? Not impossible, obviously, but likely? I have sometimes come across sale listings that give some provenance, info on previous ownership, & they predate 3D printing.

This matter just drives me mad. These 3 plaques sold by an Italian dealer as white alabaster are certainly from my mystery maker. The one they identify as Zephyr & Flora is actually Puck & Titania. That one, along with the other 2, the Infant Academy and the Calmady Children, are part of their line.

https://www.antichitacastelbarco.it/it/prodotto/edward-william-wyon-altorilievi



This bit is utter fantasy:

Molti dei suoi lavori sono contraddistinti dall'applicazione, sul retro, di una piccola incisione in bronzo, a certificarne l’autenticità.

Many of his works are characterized by the application, on the back, of a small bronze engraving, to certify their authenticity.

That little faux bronze engraving certifies they are fakes.

Here's what Antiques Roadshow had to say in 1998, although I don't know how appraiser knew they were made in 'England & elsewhere.'

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/season/3/louisville-ky/appraisals/fake-ew-wyon-plaques--199803A04/