Featured CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

lot o' folks cavorting in the buff , back in the day !!!!

 

It was "art" and thus allowed.

 

Question - Were double-sided cameos in existence in the 19th century? I'm contemplating purchasing a small pendant with a cameo on either side, but I don't know if that is "legit" for the time period.

 

I don't see many in general. Hardstone, I assume? Here's a double sided one from the 16th c at The Met.

A picture would help with date and construction.

 

They were in existence at least as far back as the Renaissance, as the one Mirana's link leads us to. Trying to recall if I've seen any that were Roman. And yes, we'd love to see if you can get a pic or 2.

 

I've asked the seller for some clearer pictures because the photos they've posted are extremely blurry. They said they'll send some over the weekend so I'll share the photos when I get them.

 

The seller has sent through some clearer pictures. Believe it or not, these are much better than the images on the listing. Do these look like carved shell or hardstone cameos, or do you think they are more likely to be plastic? I know the detail isn't fully there in the images, I'm guessing because the pendant is so small (2cm). Also, does the dirt look like it would clean off? I'm wondering about the black marks on Hera. @Bronwen @mirana

 

Shell cameo generally exhibit a consistent convexity and concavity that is apparent on the front and back, unless it is from a larger and flatter part of the shell. It feels likely that there are two separate pieces of comeo, with the frontal (Antinous) shell showing convexity and the back (Hera) appearing flatter rather than concave.

 

How interesting! These are two separate cameos fit in one frame. Antinous is definitely shell. Hera looks a bit flatter but I would still assume shell. They would both definitely benefit from a clean.

 

A trifle off topic. Came across this engraving the other day from 1698 and showing an intaglio carver. Imagine it would have looked much the same for a cameo carver.

 

@moreotherstuff Fantastic! Thanks for sharing! Any idea what the text says?

 

I tried translating it, but didn't keep the translation. It's a moralistic rhyme. As I recall, it boils down to a reflection on the transience of life.

 

Agree with what has already been said. I'm confident Hera is shell. Doubt it would have been difficult when these were cut to find a 2cm segment of shell that was flat, since I imagine they had much larger helmet shells to choose from than are readily available today. I have shell pieces of about 3.5cm that are so flat they look like hardstone (or artificial material.) This double sided piece would work well as a charm. I think it would clean up very well; I just see dirt, not ink or anything that way.

 

Still surfing, took me to this:

If you want to look that up, be aware that clicking the link automatically downloads a PDF to your computer.

An historical survey of cameos and mostly a lot of eye candy:

Shepherdess Under a Moonlit Sky (late 16th C)

 

Love this. And really want that cabinet with all the shallow drawers. Tried to work out the writing but probably made errors in transliterating from the old script. I came up with this:

Ein herk, das eisengleich zum Leiden,
hast ben den Trubfass Stichenstill,
und freuet sich wanns Iesus will,
sein Leidens Bild darum einschneiden,
dann auff das bildbeschmerrte Seit
folgt dortdas bild de Herrsichteit

and IM Translator gives back:

A heart like iron for suffering,
the trub barrel is absolutely still,
and rejoice whenever Jesus wants,
to carve his image of suffering around it,
then on the page with the image on it
The image of glory follows there

Clearly something wrong with 'Trubfass'. In the picture you can see the drawing of the design he's working on propped up in front of him.

 

Do I remember correctly that the shepherdess cameo is Masnago?

Is the pdf just a digital copy of the Met Bulletin for Cameo Appearances, a special exhibit of cameos organized by James Draper? It's worth having, not long & download likely to be virus free. I have it in hard copy; think it can still be found used & Met Publications may still be selling reprints.

 

I luv that he's too short for the chair , but the chair is the right height for that table.... thus the box for his feet !
The room is so clean and orderly....everything in it's proper place , as if it's an ideal version of an artists workshop............yet , he doesn't fit !!!

An interesting depiction , to be sure!

 

He works the lathe by foot.

 

Yes, this is the Met Bulletin, and yes, Alessandro Masnego.