Attention:Bronwen

what the heck is this black mark and can I get rid of it? I’m assuming I can’t but what the heck??!

 

I got this one yesterday for $3. I’m I. The beginners stage of cameo collecting. Idk why I like them so much. I guess I like the history behind them...

 

@Bronwen thx

 

The black looks integral to the material. Only way to remove it would be to cut off the sides. The making of resin cameos is not an area I have put much study into.

This one is shell, late 50s/early 60s, bit of a hodgepodge of elements Might be a crown, but more likely meant for a Spanish comb. What I think of as 'Lady of Spain' cameos were popular for a while. They seem to be the descendants of Psyche, with the squared off butterfly wing on her brow. It got so square as to be unrecognizable, migrated back & became a comb. From here:



To here:



There is nothing wrong with starting a separate thread, & putting my name in the title certainly gets my attention, but you are also welcome to add inquiries to the ongoing cameo thread:

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/cameos-show-tell-or-ask-answer.23493/page-38#post-438878

 

Ah ok I didn’t know of that thread. Thanks! So that’s resin huh? She lied and sold it to me as shell. This is why I hate buying hints online. I think I am going o send it back. I don’t like it with the black spots anyways

 

Love the history. Need to find a way to study and get the basis...kinda like cameo cliff notes.

 

So is this one resin as well? Got it at the same time and from the same person as the shell cameo.....one day my collection will look much prettier....

 

So is this one resin as well? Got it at the same time and from the same person as the shell cameo.....one day my collection will look much prettier.... View attachment 154376 View attachment 154377

 

This one is definitely resin (a generic term that basically comes down to plastic). I'm reasonably confident about the first one, but if you show me the edge the way you did with this last one, I will know for sure.

A cameo with the coloring of shell that has a flat rather than concave back, unless it is very small, or is modern & has a covered over back, is almost always going to turn out to be resin.

The deluxe version:

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/cameos-show-tell-or-ask-answer.23493/

As you have time, browse through the Cameos Show & Tell thread. There's lot of both. It's an easy place to start. This might also be useful:

https://cameotimes.com/index.php/reference/materials-guide

 

Best to study and/or ask here before buying. We are happy to help, and if you want to start a cameo collection, Bronwen is the person to ask before you buy. If you are in a hurry and she is not around eek, most other joolies will also be able to tell resin from other materials.

 

Absolutely, if it is feasible. I know things may turn up at a flea market, etc. & you have to make a decision right then, so need to educate your eye.

The most common artificial cameos:

Be aware that they can be other colors & come in more than 1 type of material, e.g., glass & plastic. The first one is ubiquitous, post-WWII, and comes in cameo, intaglio (including reverse carved) right & left facing, in every color combination you can imagine. The last 2 I would not discourage you from buying if you find one at a good price. Not as common as the others & beautifully modeled.

 

OK, pop quiz. Do you think this will sell?



Vintage Gold Filled Women's Silhouette Cameo Pin Brooch

Starting bid:
US $4,999.99

$16.75 Standard Shipping

Explain why you think it will or will not.

 

I hate to be tested, but in order to learn, I guess I might as well offer my opinion.

I can't image it selling for $50, let alone $5,000!

1. It is either chipped at the top, or the setting isn't original to the cameo. 2. Lack of detail. 3. I've never seen one outlined.....is that original?

I'm sure there are many other reasons.....

unless of course, it just happens to be a very rare "such and such"!

(I wish I were anonymous!)

 

Brave girl to go first, but you need to review the course material in post #11. Take a good look at the photos, then come back & look at the test question. Doing this will be good for any member who ever buys cameos. How to avoid junk 101.

 

An example of Picture #3 in post 11. And very badly carved at that.

 

Well......dumb blond here......but looking at post 11 does nothing for me.

But, I can tell you that in hand, I know a plastic cameo from a shell one. I have experienced lava cameos and stone cameos, but until you showed your collection, I had never new such beautiful cameos existed.

What should post #11 tell me?

I think all of them are plastic of some sort. Beyond that, I need help! LOL!

 

Compare the third one in #11 with the test. Disregard the coloring. As I wrote: Be aware that they can be other colors...

 

The pony tail one?

I don't see the comparison with the test.

The next one is a puzzle.......are those "cracks" put there on purpose to "antique" the cameo?

 

Sorry. My bad, as people say these days. I didn't scroll back up far enough so gave you the wrong one. Bakers spotted it. The one to give a hard look is the third down, the one with the cracks. These are always made in porcelain; she has crazed.

 

Whew! I picked the correct one for comparison, however, I would not have known it was porcelain. So the cracks are for real.