Featured 9ct on poor cameo

hi folks

found this today in a charity shop for very little

they had lots of brooches on a cushion in a cabinet

thought this looked very poor but saw a 9ct mark on the back

looks like it reads in the mark 9KT 377 NA

not quite sure what it means

havent tested it but looks like gold

 

I am no expert but I like the cameo regardless of its gold setting and don't see any reason to call it "poor". It is beautiful, IMO. I don't speak about antique quality or value (which I don't know), it is just beautiful for me, I'd wear it with pleasure. Congrats for the find!

 

Looks like an Italian frame from what I can see in the picture. Post 1968 and NA stands for Naples.

That timing would also go with the style of the "pretty girl."

 

Brilliant, very helpful thanks Bakers

 

I've seen far worse. Picasso faces without the intention of creating a Picasso.

The region of Napels is cameo country. Especially Torre del Greco, where this 'pretty girl' was probably carved and set.

 

No. The 377 is the registration number for the firm that made the frame.

 

She isn't the style I collect but she's not poor looking. We have seeeeen some things Charlie! Hatchet faces, weight-lifter necks, tiny head, massive eyes....

This one is decently carved and a pretty face. If you resell her I imagine she'd go quickly to someone who'd love her.

 

Good spot Charlie!

 

She's an extremely common figure, but far from the worst. I will remind people again of



(The Guernica of cameos.)

And yours is at least actual helmet shell & not some resin lookalike.

The mount is perplexing. I can't imagine even the most self-loathing Italian jeweller using 9K. On the other hand, it has a feature I've noticed on Italian cameo settings: a hinge that looks decades earlier with a modern clasp & bail.



After 9K, in the cartouche, I could see it as W M. I could also see NA instead of M.

 

Blimey, good eyes Dave
Both me & the charity shop missed that one

Theres a full hallmark on there, will try and get a pic of it

 

It's a 60s carving with a Victorian style clasp and 60s-style hallmarks. I have a hunch some jeweler found Grandpa's stash of old fittings and decided to use them rather than buy new. The 9k hallmark makes total sense if these were made for export.

 

Boy That made me laugh!

 

Here's a sample mark from 1968 in Italy

 

That's what I was thinking also, a modern cameo placed in an old setting.

As far as "poor", JMHO, she isn't very old and is fairly common. The setting deserves better but she looks better than these I sold a few years ago, not terrible but far from fine

 

lol Bronwen, what is the story on that one

 

No idea, really. The diadem says goddess, the bare breasts say Venus/Aphrodite. Doves are associated with her, so maybe that's what the dive bombing bird is. Sort of an altar looking thing in the background. As for the furry fish...?

And an even bigger mystery is why would someone have her set for wearing? Can just imagine the reactions of others.

 

To be honest, something that absolutely bizarre would be a fun conversation piece to wear. Something so terrible it comes back around to great again.

But the person who sold that with a straight face... That's tough to imagine.