Featured CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

She is Tuccia, a Vestal Virgin who was accused of being unchaste, in violation of her vows. She swore that this was untrue & said that to prove it she would carry water from the River Tiber to the temple in a 'sieve'.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuccia

There is an article about her as a cameo subject on CameoTimes.com. Think you may have to be signed in as a registered user to view the page:

https://cameotimes.com/index.php/profiles-1/mortals/tuccia-sieve

It's my belief that the 'sieve' was actually something more like a winnowing basket:



My Wedgwood book says H was used as a date code in 1879 & again in 1905. Don't think they were setting their pottery as jewellery in 1879. 1905 seems more plausible based on style also.

Hope it says WEDGWOOD.

 

I'm not a Wedgwood collector, so don't really know, but since the several shades of blue & the sage green are the most common, I would assume other colors, being rarer, would hold more value, and I know that multi-colored pieces are quite desirable. However, they probably did not make this piece in all the colors they produced.

 

Thank you! Yes, I cannot spell. I never heard this myth.....she was one of my favorite finds last weekend and she is a keeper. You are AMAZING! You need to open your own cameo museum!!!

 

I'm partial to the cobalt blue jasperware, like yours. I think Bronwen is right that the less common colors and shades have more value on the market. Or I think yours is the cobalt. In the picture it appears a little brighter than that.

 

She's not that dark, but not the usual lighter blue. Researching Wedgwood jasperware, it's amazing the shades they made!

 

Wow!

 

Please help ID the signature on this recent cameo, mounted in 9ct gold. 3.8cm x 3.1cm
Thank you

 

Me, three.
I bought this one off of eBay a couple/few years ago. Luckily, I was able to force the seller into a return/refund. Seller had advertised it as hand-carved shell.

 

I also bought mine on Ebay. The seller didn't stipulate shell, but luckily I didn't pay much for it. I still like the subject matterm

 

Unfortunately, I don't recognize the signature, but it is a more recent cameo, maybe 1960s or so.

 

@Bronwen - more examples for your Pinterest boards. They are from various auctions over the last 6 weeks or so. None are mine.

 

Have just bought these two Cameos in an online auction, both are set in 9ct gold, the smaller one is 4x3cm, the larger (Bacchante?) 5x4. Would love to know more about them, age, who they are. I guess they are Italian? Sorry but for some reason a couple have gone landscape and I couldn't rotate them. Thanks

 

Also, can anyone please tell me if it's OK (and how) to clean cameos?

 

Carefully !!

 

@Bronwen has some posts about cleaning shell cameos earlier in this thread. You can soak them in water that has mild dish soap in it, and carefully brush or wipe them with a soft brush or cloth. Or I think that is what she recommended. I have cleaned some of mine in the past but it has been a while. Don't do the soaking if the setting has any stones glued to it, as that might cause them to come loose.

 

Here is one of Bronwen's comments about cleaning shell cameos.
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/cameos-show-tell-or-ask-answer.23493/page-240#post-4016071

 

Dory, I like both of your new cameos, but I cannot help you with the subject matter. I do want to mention the first one appears to be a bit insecure in its setting? Perhaps it's the camera angle, but the prongs look like it's been out of them once before, so you can double check them so you won't lose the cameo when wearing it out.

 

I think the prongs could be worn, which can happen over time. Do be careful with them, Dory, and check them regularly.
Both brooches are lovely, btw.

 

Could the first one be a newer cameo in an older setting? The hinge and clasp seem around 1900, her turned up nose and neckline make me think mid 1900s, JMHO