Featured CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

brown agate...???

 

I'm virtually certain it is shell. This is the back:



Have seen a number of shell pieces with those striations; never on stone. The subject matter also pulls it toward the community of shell bearded men.

 

The back says shell for sure. Just don't ask me which.

 

Don't ask me either. From what I have been able to ascertain about these pieces in general, they are cut from some kind of clam or other bivalve, possibly in what is now Germany.

 

@Bronwen Did you ever get an answer from the auctioneer about the cameo? I saw one that recently sold by Etrusca Auctions that may be from a similar type of shell.

 

As promised, here are some pics of a cameo I purchased recently. It is signed C. WILD on the right side. There is nothing on the back. It is quite large, 2.25" × 1.5", and heavy. It does not look like it was ever set. It is hard to capture in pics, but the carving is quite 3D. The brown flecks in the hair and moustache are part of the stone, not dirt. I did some research, and the Wild family were operating in Idar, just like Carl Hahn. I think C Wild is Carl Wild or perhaps Constantin Wild. I found some references to the Wild family and there are active Wild gemstone stores in Idar-Oberstein. I plan to go there in May to do some research on my 2 cameos. If anyone else in the group has German cameos that they might want more info about, PM and I will see what I can dig up while I am there.

 

The auctioneer maintains it is hardstone but they have not changed my mind about it. I have no faith that they will discern the signs when they do not want to.

I saw the Hector saying farewell to Andromache and wondered about it. I am less sure about it & think in the end decided the background layer is not right for my mystery clam. It does look like shell though, doesn't it?

 

If only you knew which Wild used that distinctive W. Unless they all did.

 

Here's really lovely. It always amazes me when they do such delicate facial hair in shell, let alone stone!! I'm sure you're going to have fantastic conversations in Germany about these pieces.

 

Hello, This ring was part of my Nan's collection of assorted jewellery. I have no memories of her wearing this and there is no Hallmarks or indication of what metal it might be .The only thing visible on inside band is what looks to be the letter 'O' followed by what looks to be a worn out 'R' . If there were any other letters they have worn off but could well just be the two letters only. I'm curious if anyone may have an idea of what the letters would mean. I have tried to find any kind of information about this ring but to no avail. I have no clue of when it was made what ,who the lady is supposed to represent . I discovered the world of Cameos is a vert big one to navigate through. Thank you kindly for any thoughts or information anyone might have . Kate

 

YES!!! I hope I will find out some info. I would like to know so much more about the German carvers.

 

I am amazed, too. It makes me want to know more about these people. There were many German carvers, but I feel like the vast majority have been forgotten. I hope I will learn something while I am there. Idar-Oberstein is only 3 hours from where my mom grew up.

 

Welcome, Kate. We could be more confident in our assessments if we could see the photos full size. It often takes newcomers some experimentation to get the pix small enough to upload while still large enough to see well.

From what I can see, your lady is not anyone in particular, either mythological or historical. She's a type that began to develop in the late 19th century & continues on to this day. She is carved in 'hardstone' (from pietra dura), the general term used mainly for the chalcedonies & jaspers that are favored by gem engravers. Yours is banded agate, a form of chalcedony.

When would your Nan have been aged 30 - 60? Think it was new, not vintage, when she acquired it.

 

Bronwen, Thank you so much for your knowledgeable insight on my ring, greatly appreciated .And yes I will get the gist on images , but your spot on with lots of experimentation at first . )

 

Very pretty! With that big ol basket I'd say she's early 20th. I hope you wear her sometimes to nice occasions!

"OR" by itself is actually a makers mark, but for ORO America which I believe started after this ring was made. If you could get a picture of the mark it would help us. It takes a lot of patience, a raking light, and a good zoom on your phone camera!

 

As posted earlier, auctioneer stayed with hardstone. Cameo hammered for 700 GBP, so probably cost buyer around 1000 GBP when the dust settled. Wonder what high bidder thought they were buying?

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0220/lot-6a0e56f0-ab30-458a-b5cf-b14000e1a90d

 

No idea. Or who, maybe?

Meanwhile, the previous lot Passed. It was a perfectly nice shell cameo. Go figure.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0220/lot-2d810896-9e05-40fc-881e-b14000e1a90d

 

Reserve may have been unreasonably high. I don't know what they started it at.

 

If the reserve was L1000, no wonder. I bought some pedestrian cameo earrings today.. for US$10, but the shell cameos are shell cameos.

 

Eye candy: http://wb.britishmuseum.org/