Featured CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

If this was originally like one I have, a bail could slide on to the hook. Think a lot of removable bails got removed for good over the years.

 

When I first saw her I thought she looked more turn-of-the-century -esque in modeling so I'm happy you think so as well.

I still cannot believe how well she turned out. I thought those salts we're going to stay and the eraser tip was absolute magic. Can't thank you enough!

I've only made it to "page" 200-ish so far (the fascinus section was particularly delightful ), but I had a hunch a lady like this had to originate somewhere in there based on what you've said before. I'm definitely going to look those sections up tomorrow.

Interesting...I haven't seen one of these yet. I had wondered if she had originally attached to another piece (and maybe the pin was not replaced, but simply added). Would love to see yours if possible but I understand if your collection is too vast to make that feasible.

 

Whew that is beautiful. An amazing carving. And a very fancy bail! I'll have to keep a lookout for others...it's such an interesting finding.

 

Hello, first timer here
I recently discover NettunoStars at etsy
was wondering if you experts think those are real shell cameos or plastic?
Thank you

 

which ones...?
they state ' shell' , lots look signed...all look new....

 

sorry, just thought the link would help find it..

 

Promotion of a seller by their name is not recommended in this forum, except in the "Sell" section.

 

Welcome, LouCas. I think you're just asking a sincere question about this seller in general. What Fig is saying is that we try to avoid posting anything that could be construed as promoting an item or seller.

I had to look at photos of about 10 of them to feel sure, but yes, they all appear to be genuine shell. So many of the pix are fuzzy, it was difficult in some cases to make out the signs.

This seems to be a group of cameo engravers collectively working under the NettunoStar name. It appears all the helmet shell cameos have a signature on the back, plus "Torre del Greco" & "Made in Italy". Some are signed on the front as well. Couldn't actually quite read any of the names due to the poor photography, but can see there are at least a handful of different ones.

The shop proprietor makes a point of mentioning that they are made using traditional methods & steel burins, but to my eye the cameos look too finished (& too inexpensive). I suspect that in some way they are getting assistance from non-traditional methods, but I have not studied contemporary cameo making &, if true, not something they would want to share.

The modern style is not to my taste - I find it cartoonish - but these pieces are certainly dramatic & well executed, signed, the antiques of tomorrow.

 

Hello, Bronwen
I appreciate your help so much
I just don't know anything about cameos and although "inexpensive" by some opinions, they are still a good chunk of change for me and I don't want to spend my hard earned dollars on a piece of plastic. So again, I can't thank you enough for your prompt reply.
Now, I have been reading some of the comments and I feel a little hooked and want to learn a lot more.
Since you seem to be one of the most knowledgeable in the forum and certainly, in my opinion, a very welcoming and helpful one, I was wondering if you could explain for me the most basic rules about cameos for a very very beginner.
Also for any of you in the forum that wants to put their two cents of knowledge and send it my way, please do so as well
Many thanks again and looking forward to learning from you all

 

Luckily for all of us, @Bronwen has already done this on her site Cameo Times. She goes over material types, identification of antique subjects, and more. After that, starting at the first page of this thread and working your way forward is the advanced education.

 

We have several very knowledgeable cameo people & others who are getting to be quite savvy & we all welcome you. Thanks to @mirana for plugging my site. Some useful information about Materials is under Reference. Articles about some of the subjects seen on cameos are under Profiles; not all cameos are "pretty ladies."

I have to run just now, but near the beginning of this thread are posts from me about what to be looking for when buying cameos.

 

Hello Bronwen. I came across an auction selling quite a few cameos ~ someone's collection maybe?

Made me think of you, specifically because I seem to remember a comment you made somewhere along the way about Lava Cameos. They have some in this auction (one or two maybe)

On the downside, I just found the auction and it ends soon ~ tomorrow AM, I think. That would actually be today. I'm still thinking middle of the night but it's morning now.

This action is not too far from me. I've purchased lots from them, but not since they started online only (via covid). Not sure if I'm bidding on anything yet but if you bid/win, I could probably ship your items to you (at a better rate than shippers listed!)

Just a couple...



Auction link:
https://briggsauction.bidwrangler.com/ui/auctions/96072?mainCategory=All

 

Somebody's 20th century cameo collection for sure. That's so sweet of you to offer.

That auction house seems to have lots of lovely things so you're lucky to be next door. I only have one near me and it's...not great. Mostly modern middle class home decor and golf carts (??). I think the rich old-money folk around me mostly deal with big BIG auction houses.

 

Seconding Mirana: that is really so sweet of you. These days I am buying next to nothing. I have reached a stage where I'll see something & lunge at it in my mind, then back off & tell myself it's time to leave some nice things for other people. I have my share of lava cameos. A favorite is this one of Cupid leading Cerberus, using his bow as a yoke, after Thorvaldsen's Cupid in the Underworld:



If I had money to blow off, I'd go after this one, it is just too freakin' weird:

 

Love that Cupid and the puppy sized Cerberus. The fat roll legs, animated pup heads and the finger-like paws!

Floaty face is definitely a weird choice. And all that....chest....space? What were they thinking? Today I saw a poor quality micro-mosaic that looks like a moth with huge muppet lips and I really want it for the laugh factor but not $300 want it.

Okay but you are welcome to come let us know about it. I know it would take you forever but I wish you had an archive of your cameos. Your collection must be amazing. I'll take what I can look at in drops though!

 

It's not just this one. Over the years I have seen pieces, especially some contemporary Italian ones, that were just so strange they deserved a category of their own. I don't know. Why do some people collect shrunken heads? In a way she chimes with Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy:



@mirana This is one of mine.

 

I love the variations of Melpomene because there is just no way to not make a beautiful woman holding a seemingly decapitated man's head...unexpected. At least for those that don't understand the imagery. They got a lot of beautiful detail in this one, even with everything they needed to fit in!

 

I couldn't help but notice that one, too! Even her decolletage looks unusual