Featured CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

My first thought was molded, but then I thought she looks quite "undercut" about her profile... will be interested to hear final determination (if made!)

If you end up with her, please take pre/post bath shots (because I suspect the difference will be dramatic).

 

I've messaged you. Thankyou

 

I've replied.

OK, everyone, after seeing this photo, what advice did I give KSW?

 

To buy it ?
Joking aside, my first thought was molded too, but I’ve been wrong before
If it’s not molded, then what material could it be ? I’m really curious..

 

I think you told her to buy it -- only if she really really likes it and it's dirt cheap.

Because it looks like it's hollow (or there's an air pocket or something-something) behind the hair? And that divot/pinhole/burst bubble in the back?

Zero confidence in my assessment, but I think it's some sort of resin.

 

Because it was currently inexpensive, with no bidders, I told her to go for it. It is
'lava'; the question, which available photos are not quite sufficient to answer, is whether it is a single piece of hand carved lava, or what is essentially reconstituted lava, volcanic material mixed with resin and formed in a mold.

Ideally, I would like to see the line where figure & ground meet. However, I'm sufficiently encouraged by the undercutting Jivvy noted, as well as by the evenness of the color (lava can be, & often is, dyed) to give it a thumbs up. Even if molded, it was done in a very good mold & would be a pretty thing to have around. If price is not much higher.

 

While I knew it was intending to be the-substance-we-call-lava, I did not believe it... was not aware that lava is commonly dyed, though, so there's today's new thing learned.

I also wondered if the wee hole on the back was from a screw or something attaching two pieces. But decided that was a stretch.

I hope we get to see new pics!

 

I hope you will get it, @KSW ! And for a nice price too !
And thank you, @Brownen for the challenge !

 

Sorry to disappoint, I was outbid!. With the doubt as to if it was moulded or carved I placed a bid last minute so I couldn't get carried away. There will be another one and I now know a little more what to look for. Thankyou Bronwen for sharing your knowledge.

 

Are you especially interested in lava? Or was it the figure (& price) that attracted you? You are quite right that another will come along. It just requires persistent vigilance. There are certain searches I run on eBay at least once/day. So many new cameo listings & relistings everyday, if I don't look regularly at the most recent, I can't keep up.

 

Not specifically lava at all. I just liked the style and presentation. I don't like the flowery ones and sadly I like quality which is usually out of my price range!. You have spoilt me by showing some stunning ones .

 

If you put away what you would have been willing to spend on items like the lava Ariadne when you are outbid, probably wouldn't take that long to accumulate enough to buy something good. I've been trying to expose the community to what cameos can be, beyond helmet shell pretty ladies from the 1940s - 60s. It's bound to adjust your aspirations upward.

 

I'm sorry you didn't get it, I hope you are not too sad about that and that you will find another one that you like pretty soon !

 

And show it to us.

 

Evidently !

 

Thankyou
No, not too sad which probably means I wasn't meant to have it.

 

You will probably see it before I part with cash!

 

The Cameo Consultants, at your service.

 

DUDES!

This is an 1884 bit of filler that got picked up by a ton of papers.

It may be my favorite "crazy world of cameos" find to-date (no I'm not convinced that it's true, just that it's dude-fabulous):

 

Dudes and Dudines! Nowadays they are just all dudes.

But wait... people were having their thumbnails carved??? Ack!

I would love to find an antique photo showing one of the carvings.