Featured Surprising Cameo Results

Totally museum-worthy!

 

It is a little gem. The only Negronis I had seen were shell. Surprised we do not see more. The one I have, originally spotted by bluumz, who generously ceded it to me, is also in the Show & Tell thread.



As striking as it is, the price achieved by the Athena is surprising, especially with the company it was keeping. It must have been one of the newest pieces in the entire auction. Very encouraging, not that the shell portrait cameo would reach anything like that price. Encouraging that an appreciation for glyptics seems to be going strong out there.

 

Haha! Good question!!

 

Apparently, the Evil Eye

https://www.thehairpin.com/2015/02/apotropaic-boners-or-how-to-avoid-the-evil-eye/

 

Great article for a good laugh. Take that evil eye!

 

I was surprised by the Athena's price also. I was expecting it would go for much less, considering that there was damage to the cameo and that it was unset. But most of the items in the auction fetched strong prices, so there was definitely interest.

 

Well, now we know. Except, why does the Evil Eye find male genitalia distracting, even when not in poke-your-eye-out form? There's more at work, I suspect. The word vir, man, is the root of virile & virtue (in the sense of property/power: the virtue of this herb is that it relieves the pain of quinsy). And loss of male sexual function is 'impotence'. It would be interesting to know whether men (& stallions) ever wore these amulets or if they were reserved for those who did not have penis power naturally & needed a boost to have the power to repel evil influence.

 

Think Bertolami is known for their glyptics auctions. They would get a specialist audience.

 

Quote from the same article:
“According to Pliny the Elder, amulets featuring phalluses were worn by everyone from military generals to little babies. These two demographics in particular were thought to be popular targets for the Evil Eye, because in ancient Rome everyone was jealous of successful generals and families with babies that didn’t die.”

 

New word of the day, thanks!

 

Bet the troops whispered behind those generals' backs.

 

Not a bad result, considering it’s shell, not signed, there’s no gold and the subject is not rare.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-...-Cameo-Brooch/363208957854#vi__app-cvip-panel

 

Wow! That is encouraging.

 

£274
Schmoll would have been pleased.

 

He would indeed. It is some of the cleanest work by him I've seen. Judging by the bidding history, winner really, really wanted it.

 

£1,302
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quality-...-Cameo-Brooch/124485132251#vi__app-cvip-panel

 

I think this one came out just about where it should have, but it's always amazing to watch something go from 9.99 to 1,302. Only 20 bidders total, so must have been some real jockeying going on.

 

All you need is two who are really determined. I once had piece of Staffordshire go that way - started around $49USA and it went up to over $200 due to two buyers who both wanted her just that badly. Can't say I minded.

 

Guess not everyone watches Antiques Roadshow, where these plaques were debunked. They are products of the same maker behind the 'L'Gaterrie' & 'Danbiere' cameos & boxes.

This one, The Calmady Children & the next lot, The Infant Academy, each fetched $300 from a lone bidder who got snookered.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/ite...-plaque-in-high-relief-mother-and-child-7-dia





$300 for what is essentially high end plastic.

 

This is an outrageous estimate posting. If this reaches the lowest end of projected sale price, 460 EUR, someone will have been snookered X 2.

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/14-kt-gold-cameo-pendant-785-c-58B4855905



Especially for @komokwa , beware of this one, mass produced & assembled from 2 pieces. This could also go in a category called 'Worst Use of Fine Gold'.