Featured CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

I'm a little surprised Hollywood got it right. This is a cameo of Hera & Athena headed off to help the Greeks, led by a couple of the Hours (not mine sad to say):

 

@Bronwen the seller just answered. Hi’s changed the listing adding more photos and the option “Make offer”.
Does it look like a hardstone to you?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/19th-Cen...ung-Gentleman-with-Side-Whiskers/401838335046

I’m considering making an offer but the price I have in mind may sound offending...

 

Yes, it’s beautiful!
How do you know the exact subject? Is it after a painting?

 

The additional photos are still not very sharp or well lit, but it is not what I thought from the single photo you had to start with. It may not be significant, I notice the seller says he believes it is on hardstone, as though it is an assembled piece. I have seen this wording used for pieces that were shell cameos with the background removed from around the white affixed to a slice of agate. I don't see the telltale sign of glue between the layers, so may just be seller's way of saying they believe it is hardstone. I don't know for certain what it is; it is not a standard sardonyx cameo. There's a possibility it is stone, the appearance does not entirely rule it out, however, I'm not comfortable with it & would not venture anywhere near as much money myself, even if it meant I might be passing up something rather special. I'm getting a glass vibe from it, which is interesting in its own right, just not for that kind of money. Wish I could give you more decisive guidance; I can only offer my gut feeling.

 

John Flaxman's illustration for the Iliad. The Hours are his own touch. He invented a scene not in the saga of the Hours putting the horses away again that has been a popular cameo subject.


The rainbow is only seen on some cameo versions (this is mine):

 

View attachment 291149 [/QUOTE]
Now I am properly jealous!. That is fabulous .

 

I was hoping to win this cameo at an auction today, but it went too high. The subject is interesting-Pero and Cimon. The highest example of filial charity.

 

Bronwen, tank you very much for the detailed explanation. Knowing your experience, advice from you is highly valued and indeed saves me wasting hard earned cash. Really appreciate it!

 

Looks very unusual. How old do you think it is?

 

I was thinking early 1800s.

 

Bronwen, Apart from being beautiful I’m surprised by the pristine condition of your cameo. The horses’ legs look so delicate.

 

I'm not sure what it is, but suspect if it went very high some bidders thought it was even older than that, possibly Renaissance, although the setting is not from them. Could be mid-18th century. The stone is very unusual. I'm going to post again links for work by the Miseroni family:

https://www.khm.at/nocache/de/objek...view=0&rand=10&page=13&id=11227#object-73999v

And Alessandro Masnago:

https://www.khm.at/nocache/de/objek...&view=0&facet_date=-4500;2004&sort=score:desc

You can see they were real lapidary artists who truly romanced the stone.

 

As I think about it, shell seems to hold up better than hardstone when it comes to bits getting knocked off. Any time you're thinking about a hardstone cameo with a head/bust on it, first thing to check is the nose, especially on rings, they so often have the tip knocked off.

 

i had some surgery and my vision was blurry for a couple of days, so I couldn't see to post. It looks like the scrap value of the gold itself is about the cost I paid for the whole piece. That's terrific! You did good.

 

Good to hear your vision has cleared again & you like what you see. I was impressed by the solidity of the construction & the evenness of the color between front & back. The hinge alone tells it all.

 

Last night



and this morning

 

These arrived in a joblot.
I know they aren’t special in the carving or subject matter but what are they likely to be made from?
Can they be dated by the hooks or backs?. They test as silver but no marks ive found yet.
Can I use soap and water to clean them?
Thanks for advice

 

What are we looking at? Looks like the work of the guy who sells on eBay as 'kammee'. He makes them himself but insinuates they are old, from an important collection. They are starting to creep into other auctions as 19th century.

Edit: I see by the announcement 'Zero customs charges' that this is the seller I thought it was. You were saved from buying a faux antique by the price hike. This is his own site:

https://sites.google.com/site/portraitcameosite/

Second edit: There does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to his pricing.

 

Lava. https://cameotimes.com/index.php/reference/materials-guide?start=3

 

Yes it’s the same guy.
All his cameos have similar settings and that set the alarm bells ringing.
When I sent him this message:

“Engraved gemstone good confition for its age”

Hi,
Could you please tell me what actually is the age of this cameo?
Regards

he jacked up the price.

Bronwen, thank you very much for confirming my suspicions.