Featured Can anyone tell if this cameo is signed?

Hi all, new here but I've been a lurker for a while. I was wondering if anyone could determine whether this cameo is signed (on the back) or if those are just scratches. Also, how old does it look? Thank you

 

Oops, forgot the back, here:

 

Welcome @madeleineann04 . Glad you came out of hiding.
I'll post the photos full image for you, so people can see them better:

 

Thank you so much, haha! Still learning. There's so many buttons!

 

You'll get the hang of it.

 

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/cameo-signature-help-needed.38228/page-2
Is this Silz that has come up before?

 

I was wondering, too. Looks similar to what I remember.

 

Welcome @madeleineann04 !!

This is definitely signed by Charles Schmoll in the 19th century. Go to the link Houseful helpfully posted and scroll down until you see a similar signature and keep scrolling to read the whole saga of uncovering his name! It's an amazing read.

The consensus seems to be that we can't be sure Schmoll actually carved everything he signed because there are so many Schmoll pieces out there and he sometimes signed with other carvers. It's possible he signed as a dealer on some pieces.

I love how small your Zeus is! Perfect for wearing. Do you plan on wearing him? Or starting a collection? Or is the collection already underway?

 

Oh my gosh, that was quite a ride, and so fascinating, thank you so much!!! I haven't seen a signed cameo before in person so I wasn't sure if it was actually a signature or just some very neat, clean scratches! I'm so glad to know that it is. He's absolutely dinky and I don't own any other necklace cameos. I would be a bit scared to wear it anywhere I'd be moving around a lot as it's a little fragile (but the condition actually isn't that bad, I don't think! I only paid £15 I would say that's a steal haha)

I have a small collection, so he's probably going to sit with the rest of them. I don't have many yet but I scored a brooch somewhat recently for £40, probably because it was so dirty, that I'm really happy with. I think I only got it so cheap because of the dirt. It was my first time cleaning a cameo and I am quite pleased with how it looks now. I'll attach a photo

 

That's a very pretty rendition of "Hebe feeding the eagle", who was Zeus in disguise.

https://cameotimes.com/index.php/profiles-1/minor-gods/hebe-and-eagle

 

I thought it was probably a depiction of Hebe and Zeus but I wasn't sure because it seems like quite an unconventional depiction. Thank you so much for the link, so much useful information

 

I think she's a very sweet, maidenly Hebe.

The Zeus looks consistent with other small Schmoll pieces, so probably no reason to think it is not from his hand.