Featured Gilt metal cameo bracelet

Hi all

Found this at a boot sale for not very much
No precious metals, and not presumably carved either, some kind of plastic ?

But thought they looked nicely defined, and maybe has a bit of age

Any thoughts to age origin or material appreciated

 

Calling @Bronwen

JMHO, I suspect these are carved shell and late 19th, early 20th century based on the faces and quality of the carving, but wait for Bronwen to weigh in. Love it and would have bought it in a heart beat!

 

Interesting thanks Marie, wouldn't they be in a precious metal if carved ?

 

That’s gorgeous!.
Are there differences in the cameos or are the two types identical? If carved presumably there would be some small variations and signs of hand working. I can’t see well enough from the photos.

 

Thanks ksw

I find it hard to believe they are all individually carved

I've noticed there are colour differences to each matching panel

Will try and get a close up today of two matching ones

 

It seems to be resin rather than carved shell
Very nice nonetheless!

 

Beautiful piece!
But I do agree that it's resin/plastic. The coloring of the background "shell" is a giveaway.

 

I would lean toward resin but .............. I've heard that many identical cameos are being manufactured using a master cameo and laser reproducers. The secret to identifying these cameos is by using a microscope to view them. Under magnification the surface of the cameo will appear pock-marked. Sounds do-able so it's probably being done.

 

Another vote for resin. Sweet though.

I think this bacelet pre-dates laser by many years.

 

Spot on. The backgrounds will vary but you can probably find matching pairs of figures. They are actually quite good in their own way. Don't think I have seen them before. Can't see well enough to tell if there are identifiable characters. Think I see an Apollo & a Psyche.

With that clasp, there is no way the wearer could put it on by themself.

 

Spot the (no) difference competition





I'm not surprised they are not carved.
I've noticed they have a crazing up close, does that point to a particular plastic for age?

 

Thanks for the info bronwen

I can testify to that

 

Cameos of identical twins!
Nicely done though.

 

Bummer But still sellable!

 

Yes, very.

 

Another thing to look for when trying to distinguish a resin cameo from one cut in helmet shell is whether there is any curvature to the piece as a whole. Although there are occasional exceptions, shell will have some degree of curve; resin will be flat the way these are.

Think they are all bacchantes. Don't all have grape leaves in their hair?

With my limited knowledge, trying to think of at what time did the modernity of the plastic intersect with a maker who still cared about making the cameos look like very good 19th century ones. They aren't Incolay, which is highly durable. Pieces from the 60s that have not been abused still look like new. My loose estimate is that this is post-WWII, pre-1960.

The jump rings holding the two parts of the clasp do not look the same age as the others, so clasp probably replacement. I've never seen this type of clasp used for a bracelet, for the obvious reason.