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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Bronwen, post: 315139, member: 5833&quot;]The majority of cameos we find for sale are cut in helmet shell, like the ones shared by bercrystal &amp; evelyb30.&nbsp; A couple of varieties are commonly used; one provides a background that is lighter &amp; more orange, the other is darker, sometimes quite a dark brown.&nbsp; We are beginning to see artificial cameos that look frighteningly like helmet shell.</p><p><br /></p><p>Conch shell is also used.&nbsp; These cameos can be all white, all pink, most often a white figure on a pink background.&nbsp; On eBay they are frequently incorrectly described as angel skin coral.</p><p><br /></p><p>There are coral cameos, ranging from a deep red, which can be assumed to be dyed, to the palest shades that are the true angel skin.&nbsp; There are also a lot of fake coral cameos, some quite convincing.&nbsp; Best to be careful about these.&nbsp; There is guidance on recognizing coral &amp; conch shell in <a href="https://cameotimes.com/index.php/reference/materials-guide?showall=&amp;start=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://cameotimes.com/index.php/reference/materials-guide?showall=&amp;start=1" rel="nofollow">this article</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>Short of gems cut in precious or semi-precious stones, the material that adds the most value to a cameo is agate or jasper, both the same basic mineral, chalcedony, known under the general term &#039;hardstone&#039;.&nbsp; Agate, with its layers of color, is the more common.&nbsp; The Michelangelo at the top, the set Marie shared with us &amp; the very orange spurious Rosi are all agate.&nbsp; Hardstone can be effectively mimicked by glass.&nbsp; A nice glass cameo is not necessarily without value, just don&#039;t pay hardstone prices for one.</p><p><br /></p><p>Another type of cameo is called lava.&nbsp; Articles about this and about hardstone can be reached from the page on &#039;angel skin&#039;.&nbsp; Other materials are also used for cameos, but these are the most common.</p><p><br /></p><p>Cameo collectors disagree about how important various factors are in valuing a cameo, but no one disputes that the very most important is <b>quality of carving</b>.&nbsp; A well carved shell cameo is more valuable than a mediocre one in hardstone.</p><p><br /></p><p>When first taking an interest in cameos, it is easy to mistake pretty for good, although pretty is a perfectly good place to start.&nbsp; It is only with looking at a wide array of cameos that one develops an appreciation for finer carving and more <b>unusual subjects</b>.</p><p><br /></p><p>Museums will display ancient Greek or Roman cameos that are broken.&nbsp; Unless the carving on a modern piece is superior, this is not acceptable.&nbsp; <b>Condition</b> counts.&nbsp; When held up with light behind, helmet shell cameos often show fine &#039;stress lines&#039;.&nbsp; While not desirable, these are not considered a serious flaw if they are not numerous &amp; have not developed into through &amp; through cracks.&nbsp; Hardstone cameos that are set in rings frequently have had their nose knocked off, the first thing I check on these.&nbsp; Cameos can get amazingly grimy.&nbsp; Most can be safely cleaned, so this is not a problem.&nbsp; However, reject anything that looks stained, has anything that looks like an ink mark, etc.&nbsp; These cannot always be remedied.</p><p><br /></p><p>Most cameos appear in jewellery, both costume quality and fine, and that aspect can be assessed just as for any other jewellery.&nbsp; I cannot overemphasize that you cannot assume a cameo is good because the <b>setting</b> is or vice versa.&nbsp; All else being equal, larger cameos are usually preferred to smaller ones, but this is a minor consideration.</p><p><br /></p><p>A feature that always adds value but that is rarely found on cameos that turn up in thrift stores and church bazaars is the presence of a <b>signature</b>, even an illegible one.</p><p><br /></p><p>My personal order for importance:</p><ul> <li>Quality of carving</li> <li>Signed or not</li> <li>Subject<br /> </li> <li>Material</li> <li>Condition</li> <li>Setting</li> <li>Size</li> </ul><p>Placing the subject so high very much reflects my personal taste.&nbsp; Many people would put it last.&nbsp; It is also something you can&#039;t gauge until you have an idea of which subjects are common.</p><p><br /></p><p>If a cameo comes with its original box it gets a significant bump up in resale value.</p><p><br /></p><p>Well Chris, you asked.&nbsp; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie100" alt=":writer:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie92" alt=":turtle:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie58" alt=":joyful:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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