Featured Black Cameo Mourning Brooch - Made of What

My Aunt gave me this Brooch about 50 years ago it was from her Mother-in-Law's estate. Measures about 1 5/8 by 2 1/4. I am not into jewelry and would like to know what it is made from, who it represents, and is it worth more than $50.00 ?

 

@Any Jewelry may be able to help.

 

the chip makes it look like glass...

 

Quartz materials like onyx,etc.have the same type of conchoidal fracture.

 

My camera is broken and I used my phone
camera. There are two places that very shinny which I wondered about, so now I know they are chips. In the pics they are blueish, to my eyes they are black and do look like and feel like glass.
Happy New Year!

 

You've entered Jewelry & Cameo Nirvana Suzy & you can trust their knowledge (w/ better pics that is).

 

Back off from it, your phone can't focus because you are too close. Can you also get an in-focus photo of the back please

 

If the lady were draped solely in grape vine, she would be a bacchante (maenad), one of the female followers of the wine god Bacchus (Dionysus). However, since she is also crowned with flowers & leaves, she is more Abundance, or the goddess Ceres (Demeter).

She is molded, not carved. If the chipped spots had shown a different color underneath, I would have said porcelain. As is, appears to be glass. Suspect she is related to this Czech piece:

No. Mass produced cameo in brass mount, 20th century, chipped. Much more valuable as a family keepsake.

 

Thanks to all! Bronwen you are the expert! I do have some more photos.
I will be on my way to Babysit the next generation.

 

@Suzy60us, try a daylight picture, no flash, no direct sun......back away far enough to get her in focus and STRAIGHT ON......then she won't be distorted.... you're getting closer!!! I DO KNOW how frustrating it CAN BE to get a CLEAR SHOT, TRUST me!!!! Use a stack of books if need be to brace your hands steady & get far enough away!! All I use now is my phone.....and that really helps!!