Featured CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

The mount will drive it up. It's more obvious that the cameo is cracked than that it is by Berini, so wonder what high bidder(s) sees. Shame you can't snag it.

 

I didn't either. I'm really just guessing until Mirana confirms.

 

@Bronwen is right, I mean a site like worthpoint that scrapes the website data of auction sites. I don't have the desire to pay for one of those, but Kronos recently recommended https://avaluer.net/ in another thread as a free alternative. I found another J C King, and some Saulini cameos, there as well lol. It picks up some eBay data like sold, date, some descriptions and photos. Not an extensive data site, but more than I've had without paying a ridiculous fee. There turned out to be a lot of the paid-for sites too.

 

I saw something new to me when I was perusing Hindman's auction that starts tomorrow. It was an intaglio signed by Michelini. I searched and found a second one that sold last year. Has anyone else seen a Michelini intaglio?

https://hindmanauctions.com/items/1...-eros-presenting-the-weapons-of-mars-to-venus








This one is on the Bertolami website and sold last year.




Not sure why Michelini would write Nicolo on the back of each one. It is a descriptor for the type of stone (onyx with an upper translucent blueish-gray layer) but a buyer would have known that.

 

Thanks for finding & showing these. Until now I had only seen cameos by Michelini, never before an intaglio. Perhaps he labeled them as nicolo because he thought the general buying public might not know the term?

 

@PepperAnna Were you top bidder on the Michelini in the Hindman auction? Think it hammered for $375, well below estimate, total with buyer's premium was $508. Seemed like there was more interest in intaglios with false signatures on them.

 

Yes - lucky me! I'll post pics when I receive it.

 

I did not expect to be home before auction ended, especially after my appointment for a dental cleaning ran longer than expected. When I got home, was surprised to find the Michelini was still some lots away, so made coffee, sat back & watched. So glad you were able to add it to your stable. I have more cameos by Michelini (9) than by any other engraver, but nothing so exotic as this nicolo. I like knowing where it has gone, keeping it in the family. Brava!

 

I, too, have multiple cameos from Michelini and Lamant - five each. After I got the magnifier I posted about several months ago, I went through my collection again and was surprised to find that my queen conch habille cameo was also by Michelini. His signature is barely readable. I've attached a bad picture for remembrance; I know I have shown this before, but I can't find the post and I am not home to take a good picture.

 

I also have two more to show once I get home... a Greenough cameo and a C. Wild cameo. Here are the pics from the auctions.

 

I'll just be over here, drooling. Counting the days until updates.

 

I look, and then keep my eyes peeled. Never have found a really good one locally, but I once literally scored a diamond in a tag sale so you never can tell.

 

I have probably several times gone through my collection with an eye specifically for signatures. First time or two yielded a number of pleasant surprises. In some cases, such as a couple of Michelinis, I knew a piece was signed but couldn't make out by whom. I always say Michelini's signature on shell (he's more careful on stone) looks like an EKG tracing.

One reason it is interesting to see this is because it is only the second instance of a signed piece in conch shell I have seen. The other being my Michelini St. George:



Conch affords such possibilities for depth, it's a wonder we don't see more signed pieces in that material.

Maenads were a favorite subject for Michelini. This one is curious because it faces left & is relatively short on detail. M. did this subject repeatedly:



I have to think that in this case the cutter of the shell was not the jeweler who applied the gold & enamel. Love the coloring of the grape leaves.

 

I wonder if this piece was intentially made for a jeweler to add the grapevines? It does have some detail, which is partially obscured by my bad picture, but not as much as the one you posted. Your St. George is quite lovely and the dragon well carved.

 

I'm aware of another conch St. George that I think is significantly better than mine. I feel I cannot show it because it is in private hands, not in a public source. It is unsigned, but I have idly speculated that it could be by Giromettti, with whom Michelini studied & who moved Michelini into hardstone. I think conch would make a great transitional practice material or way to plan a hardstone piece. Just my fancies.

 

I think yours is stellar enuf !!!!

 

A little over a year ago I made this post:

CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

Must seem perverse to anyone who only likes pretty lady cameos, but I'm very happy to have acquired this guy:



He can keep this guy company:



Wonder if I'll learn what type of shell was used for these before I'm past wondering.

 

I love him. I love how the carver used the light on top of the dark in this. It's definitely different. If he was wearable, I think I'd wear him on days I was feeling grumpy...he's got a MOOD.

 

He's definitely wearable, so perhaps I'll take him on occasional outings.

I have in inquiry in to the auctioneer of this 'Georgian hardstone' cameo.



I've seen parallel striations like that elsewhere.