Could you help with a cameo?

I have this rather large cameo pendant that, if possible, I would like some information on. With the setting it is 2 1/4" by 1 7/8". I think the setting is gun metal. It's rather heavy and solid. The material of the cameo I am unsure of but I think it might be plastic. According to my grandmother it belonged to her mother who died in 1931. In one of the picture showing the side there is a gap between the cameo and the setting so it's possible that the cameo is not original to the setting. I can also see what I think is glue residue on the back bottom. Any theories or opinions would be most welcome in regard to it's age or where it might have originated.

 

I think it could be carved onyx. Others who know more about cameos will hopefully comment.

On the back view, there's oval blob on one of the rays. Anything written on that?

 

The oval blob and the one across on the other side look like solder.There appears to be air bubbles toward the end of the long hair,is the backside of the cameo curved in toward the front?

 

No, nothing on that blob. It looks like a glob of solder. There aren't any marks at all.

 

The back seems to be flat. It is thicker on the end where the gap is than it is on the rest of cameo. I don't see any air bubbles but I will check more closely under better lighting.

 

Unfortunately, family history sometimes gets confused - this is a mid 20th century resin (plastic) cameo in a plated pot-metal frame, have seen her in various colors and mounts...

~Cheryl

 

Thank you all for your replies. I am not surprised that it isn't as old I had originally believed. The more I researched cameos, it was clear that her face was not indicative of an older piece. When I was taking pictures of it I realized that it felt like plastic. I remember it in Nana's jewelry box from when I was 5 or 6 (born in 1950) I really got confused. I am sad that it didn't belong to my mr great-grandmother as I would have liked to have something of hers. I wonder why it doesn't sit properly in the setting.

 

I don't think it is original to that setting.
If it were, it would be down inside the bezel area.

 

I agree with you Cluttered. It doesn't fit as it should and I can see glue of some sort on the bottom back. Since both my grandmother and her mother have passed I guess how it came to be will remain a mystery.

 

My cousin had a cameo pendant that she swore came from her father's grandmother. When she passed and I got the jewelry, I realized it's a 1950s costume piece by Sarah Coventry. My feeling is that she had an antique pendant and some one of the hordes of 'friends' and neighbors who were in and out of her house swapped it for the real thing and she never knew the difference.

 

Bev-that is a sad story and I'm sure things like that happen more times than we care to think.

 

As a kid I played with moms white gold or platinum, 3 emerald , two ruby, brooch.

As her alzheimers got worse, and they were preparing to more to assisted living quarters.....I looked for it in her monogramed leather jewelry case.
....................it just wasn't there anymore....

 

Komokwa-That's terrible.

 

I bet that brooch had a big lump of art glass in it originally.

 

Owned-I bet that setting was pretty with art glass in it. I wish I knew more about where it came from.

 

She is known as "Ponytail Girl", she is resin and 1950s or later.

 

That's what can happen when you let folks into the home of seniors , who see them as having more than you , and think it would be easy pickings to rifle thru their valuables......

 

Hubby's sister insisted on letting his mother wear her wedding and engagement rings when she moved into a nursing home. I tried to get her to find a substitute - Mom is blind and wouldn't have known the difference. No way. Well, after being there about six months the rings disappeared.

 

Hubby's sister should have know better......or SHE has the rings !!

Take your pick !!

 

I should have taken that brooch when Mom started going down hill.........but funny this....It kinda felt like I was stealing from my Mom......& I just couldn't do it !

Even today, the things I've amassed from my folks...while they're both still alive ( barely ..) make me feel uncomfortable !!