Featured Another cameo help thread - calcaire, dripstone, limestone?

Hi Joolies, I picked this up as costume this weekend, is she calcaire, dripstone or limestone? I think she is Beatrice, is that right?

The mount is gold filled and looks to be early 20th, no safety catch. She measures 1-1/2" x 1-7/8" (4cm x 4.8cm). The brown spots are not quite as dark as they photographed and when I move her I catch little reflective bits in the material.

The back is completely flat with an X cut in it, could that be a signature or just a numbering system?

Thank you for any thoughts on the material, subject and age.

I just want to say, without Bronwen's wonderful thread on cameos I would not have the slightest clue what she might be. I have learned so much from her and the other wonderful cameo mavens on this board

 

Hmm. She is not Beatrice Cenci & I can't see that she is Dante's Beatrice. It all depends on the kind of leaves in her wreath. Can you tell what they are?

The speckles are unusual, but I think she is otherwise white lava. Have never seen a 'dripstone' piece that was not indented on the back.



Maybe the 'X' had meaning in the workshop but not, I'm afraid, to me.

 

Thank you Bronwen, here is a shot of the top of her head showing the leaves.

Off to research white lava

 

Looks like it is meant to be a laurel wreath, although the leaves are on the large side. That would indicate that she is Muse or a poet herself. This lava Flora is very similar:

 

I agree with the white lava description. Neat!