Featured CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

Thank you, everyone, for your responses. I was a bit thrown because it was so light and thin. The other ivory cameos I own are 3-5 times as thick and are therefore heavier. I appreciate the confirmation of the material and the links to further reading and research.

 

Guess this was always meant to be a plaque/objet d'art to be seen in the case, supported from the back, not sturdy enough for the handling a jewellery piece might receive.

 

Yes, I think you are correct.

 

@PepperAnna
I see 'Dr +Mrs James...'

 

I also thought that first bit might be 'Dr.'

 

I see Dr & Mrs. I thought the next name might be Farrar. Although, if others see James that could be it. I just don't see an M.

The case reminds me of cases that were used for photographic images in the mid-19th century. I do not know how long that design had existed, though. Perhaps before photography existed, this type of case was used for other items. The carved border of the ivory reminds me of the decorative preservers that were used with those cases. This is an example. I apologize for the slightly blurry photo. The preserver is the outer rectangular band made of brass.

 

Is this a tintype? I associate them with these traveling cases. This shell cameo is in a leather case & firmly glued down, no preserver or anything decorative, just a velvety covering on cardboard or similar:



Cameo portraits of women are so much less common that ones of men; non-royalty/nobility even rarer. Think I just have two: this one cased; the other one in a little collapsible easel. I imagine men taking them along when they traveled, as you might a photograph.

 

Do you know who she is? She looks vaguely familiar...

 

I also think it says Dr. & Mrs. Farrar. I surmise that the paper was being reused to line the case.

 

The one I posted is an ambrotype from my collection. Three types of images were generally put into those types of cases: daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes (which were also initially called ferrotypes). The first two of those wouldn't survive long without protection. Early tintypes were often cased. They are much more durable than the other two. After photos on paper became the more popular types, daguerreotypes and ambrotypes disappeared from common use. Later tintypes were put only into paper sleeves, and sometimes not even into those.

 

Afraid not on this one. If I were carrying her around with me, think I'd keep the case closed. For the hardstone one in the easel, signed by Rudolf Otto, I know the family & have a strong suspicion about the individual.

 

FAKE ALERT! FAKE ALERT!

I bought is cameo on Ebay because I liked the subject matter. When I got it, I put it in a tepid water bath to soak. It was very difficult to get the "dirt" off. It flaked off, rather than dissolved, when brushed with a soft toothbrush. I used a tip of a pin to pry it out of the crevices- again it flaked off like dirty plastic. The cameo sort of fit the frame, but not exactly. The back is appropriately curved like a shell. I finally decided to heat up a metal skewer and test the back. Sure enough, it melted when touched. I also did the same to 2 real shell cameos- there was no mark.

Whoever made this is going to the next level of fakery. The frame looks ok at first glance, but the clasp is wrong and the metal is definitely a base metal attempting to look like silver gilt. Since I spent less than $30, I don't see how this can be profitable.

But just wanted to put it out there for everyone on this forum.

 

LOL. Too late for me. I already fell for one & discovered its true nature when I tried to clean it up. It's the only one I'm aware of that clearly was made in the mold of an actual cameo. I have seen at least one that was genuine shell. Will see if I can find pix.

 

And mine, mid-scrub:

 

No doubt this is what suckered me:

 

So you and I got suckered by the exact same fake cameo! I, too, saw the RD. Now I don't feel so bad. At least we both have good taste, if not good sense. It was quite convincing. The seller likely didn't realize it was fake, as they had several hundred positive ratings.

The first one you posted is real, but a similar composition.

 

If we could assign it to a documented cutter, Raimondo D'Estrada say, it wouldn't be so bad. No shame in collecting copies of better work, is there?

 

@PepperAnna


No sure if the cameo is of Queen Victoria but the hairstyle is the same.

 

If it is, they got the nose all wrong. Not to mention the rest of the face. In those days, what the Queen did they all did. All the fashionable ladies anyway. Odds are she just bit the Queen's style.

 

Haven't found many cameos lately, just this Wedgewood set in sterling. Age, anyone? And does Wedgewood have numbers or namrs for the styles of the cameos they produce? What is the most valuable color background? Who is she, and what is she holding? Thanks.

I did find this sold on ebay, but this is gold. Markings on the back of mine are H and Wedgewood.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2250594275...wizRgcqRjK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY