Featured CAMEOS: Show & Tell or Ask & Answer

I collect vintage jewelry, but my knowledge of cameos is very limited. I'm wondering if anyone recognizes the signature on this one (4th photo). The only other mark I could find is what looks like 800 on the stem. I'm assuming it's 20th century because of the clasp, but does anyone know more specifically when it would have been made, and any other information about it?

 

It may still be pre-WWI; that clasp isn't a new one. No idea what the siggie says; @Bronwen may know it, and it may be the proverbial bloke in a shed.

 

Bougeureau, Rapture of Psyche.



Think signature is Donadio. The notation below may be the year. 1940? That would be about right.

 

Thank you Fig. I seem to be developing a fondness for these bearded guys. I like it when the stone has been left its natural color, as this one probably has been.

 

Actually, cameo follows a different Bouguereau version:

 

Thank you to all who provided information on my cameo -- very helpful!!!

 

(and the few gentlemen reading this thread are thanking Bronwen for those paintings....)

 

Maybe it will make cameo collectors out of a few of them. Back off, Bouguereau! (You know, Lingo Stall, Live in Tokyo.)

 

I've a few pieces in my stash to ask about & this one recently surfaced. She came in a daylight, hungover, side of the road country yard sale purchase - small box lot of jewelry bits for $5. First pic is as found, the rest after a bath & moisturizer.
A friend just yesterday insisted she was coral, but I tried lemon juice with no reaction. Shell, or???

I'm going to upload the rest of the haul in a separate thread. I still can't believe it was all just sitting there in the box...

 

She's definitely coral. Not sure lemon juice would be strong enough to dissolve the calcium carbonate. Really, no need to assault her with vinegar. Very pretty!

 

Thank you @Bronwen - I used a drop of fresh lemon on the back before her full bath, but will halt the assault - amazing how much filth she carried & how much her color brightened afterward.

 

Grunge can actually be useful when trying to figure out from photos whether or not a cameo is carved in a natural material. Man made materials usually have a slicker surface & molded pieces do not have any sharp little crevices, so artificial pieces aren't likely to get filthy in the same way as this shell piece did.

 

That's some before & Aaaah-fter

 

I'm considering buying these cameos, but I can't tell if they're real or not. I don't have any other pictures and can't study them closer. Any idea of the value, age, or material?

 

The 'jugate' cameo on the left is helmet shell; so is the 'pretty lady' (with diadem?) who is shown twice. The one in between is resin. Pretty lady is easily 1950s or later, but the findings would give further info. The other shell cameo is earlier, but without a setting is hard to pin it down; guessing first third 20th century.

The jugate piece is interesting but a little odd. Usually there is a hero type in the foreground & an undistinguished female behind. What is odd here is that the second figure is 'laureate', i.e., wearing a laurel wreath, which is normally used to indicate a military victor or someone inspired by Apollo, such as a Muse or Orpheus. Not sure it has any meaning here; more a flourish on the part of the cutter, I think.

Would you be buying to resell?

 

Thank you, Bronwen! How can you tell if they're shell or resin?

I'd be looking to resell them. I don't know what their backs look like or what material they're set in, so I'd be taking a gamble.

Could the second figure be another man?

What are your thoughts on this one?

 

It's possible, but not conventional. Placing the shield between them is also a quirky touch. It would normally be in front by his shoulder, if there at all. The cutter did not include anything that would ID them as specific individuals. A pet peeve of mine is seeing these described as 'Trojan soldier'. The Trojans lost that war; he is more likely based on a Greek hero. Here's one of Hercules & one of the women in his life, probably Omphale:

I think pic is too small to make much of it. Cameo is shell, vintage, not antique. Setting looks interesting. Jet? Vulcanite? [Edit: The market is awash in pretty lady cameos. This one is more elaborate than many & stands out for the setting, so has potential. By & large I advise against sinking money into these unless you can pick them up for next to nothing.]

Experience. The total gestalt of coloring, contours, choice of subject. The lady on the resin piece is a color you never see in real shell, even though the background color is fairly realistic. Whole piece is very flat. Three separate pieces glued together. Molded pieces can be too good.

 

Get the seller to send you photos of the backs!

 

I saw this in Vogue, and immediately thought of you, Bronwen!