Featured CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

I didn't buy it for speculation on the mount's gold value that's for sure I definitely believe that is happening with cameos on Ebay in general though. I guess cameos are simply something that have grabbed my interest lately. I admire the craftmanship, the mythology/scenes that are displayed, the tiny details, the different materials/mediums they are carved out of.... etc... The Mrs hasn't ever owned one or worn one, or expressed any interest in doing so, so this isn't for her, it was definitely an impulse buy, simply to satisfy my curiosity (and impulsitivty!) at the time I saw the listing. I spent under $40 including shipping, so I'm happy with how it turned out. The listing photos were pretty blurry but I could tell it had marcasites (which weren't mentioned in the listing) and the face looked 'art nouveau'-ish so I figured it was possibly of that era.

To the mark - I'm trying to get better pics ...stand by.

I think it says 800 as well, but I don't really see anything that would indicate a cartouche around it.

Thanks @Bronwen and @fridolina for all of your knowledge!

EDIT - I don't think that was my avatar? At least ...I don't remember what you're referencing - maybe it was my avatar and I'm losing it!

 

Someone should definitely carve one...

My avatar of course is Frida

 

Better? Shots of the mark...



Edit...and one more of the front for good measure.



Edit again...top of head detail...

 

I think it's Jeff Drum who had it, maybe.

No, I am.

I wouldn't have picked up on it if you hadn't told me. I'm bad enough with complete faces.

That etched pattern on the bail is an unusual touch. She's a nice example.

I still think it's stamped 800 with no cartouche, mainly because I've seen so many that are & nothing about the dings that are there contradicts it.

 

No, & there's definitely not the star & province mark in a polygon. The cameo is from well before 1970.

 

Excellent! So I think then pretty safe to say she's 20's to 30's, Italian carved and Italian 800 silver mounted. Thanks again for sharing your wealth of knowledge! And don't worry... there's plenty of the madness to go around.

 

You have tentitively suggested it was the 1920s to 30s when this type of safety clasp came in; do you know when it went out? It was probably have been when internal spring-return one came in.

 

I don't know, but my sense is you see them into the 50s, that the change began to occur around then. The ones I curse are the fiddly little Edwardian attempts at a lever operated safety catch. Most of them will not stay closed & are too small for the size of the piece they are on.

 

I have had a couple of them where the lever part fell off. One was a small coral cameo. After that I couldn't wear it because the hook was not sufficiently curved to hold the pin closed.

 

Look who I found!

When they have a bail too, I always advise people to wear as a pendant, not as a brooch. Zeus here has one of those little clasps & no safety chain, but someone has put a stickpin clutch on the pin stem to use as a safety device. I still don't dare wear him. Couldn't forgive myself if he were damaged.

 

Congratulations! What a terrific cameo.

 

Thank you! And that is my new favorite cameo.

 

Since there seems to be alot of interest in signatures, I post this cameo for consideration. Cameo carver is Alessandro Dolcini, who is mentioned in several 1830s Rome guide books and had a store in Rome on Via Condotti (#22) in 1830. His last name is also mentioned in a footnote in Castellani and Italian Archeological Jewelry (footnote 69)

I think the subject is Apollo and Artemis. I found a similar picture on Greek vase.

 

@PepperAnna , have you also seen the Cameo signatures thread?
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/cameo-signature-help-needed.38228/

No problems with posting in either thread, but just didn't know whether you had seen it yet.

 

Thanks. You might say I collect signatures, so will save this one, with your permission.

Think I found the source of your info on Dolcini. Has taught me that mosicists & shops selling objets d'art may be listed together & that some names I know, such as Carnesecchi, may not be on the list of incisori if they deal in other things.

I have the book. Dolcini not in the Index. Could not find footnote. What page? [Edit] Found it. He's in exalted company. The others listed are big names. Note says might be part of the Dolce family. There's a Dolci listed among the incisori both in your guide & another from 1830 I have in my records.

What do you make of the inscription below 'Dolcini'? An abbreviation of Alessandro?

I think it is Artemis/Diana/Selene/Luna coming across the sleeping Endymion.

 

He's a good looking cuss, isn't he?

 

Thanks! I didn't know about that thread. Thanks for telling me. I will post there about signatures instead.

 

Yes, it says AleSanr~o with the swiggle going up the side of the cameo to an "o". The swiggle may be a "d" but it is faint. I think the big S may stand for the 2 lower case "s".

I did find another cameo with the Dolcini signature on Antiquecameos.net. See below. Thought you might want to add that to your signature file.

 

I also have aCarnesecchi cameo- I will have to post it next.

 

Thanks. Have added to my reference file. Cameos, like so many things, seem to come along in threes, so won't be surprised if another Dolcini pops up. Giovanna has such beautiful pieces.

I'll show you my Carnesecchis if you'll show me yours. I'll put them in the signatures thread.