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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Bronwen, post: 335163, member: 5833&quot;]Didn&#039;t get back to you right away because I wanted to check some things first.</p><p><br /></p><p>The original <i>citerista</i> was a fresco at Herculaneum; the gem that seems to be behind the cameos was by Antonio Santarelli.&nbsp; The Nectar one is not only more crisply carved, it is more faithful to the original.&nbsp; In looking again at the less expensive one, I see there is some issue right near the center, making it look like a chunk is missing out of her arm.&nbsp; Can&#039;t tell if that is a fixed flaw, grunge that could be cleaned or a stain that will not come out.&nbsp; So the Nectar kithara player wins hands down for quality &amp; condition.</p><p><br /></p><p>I wanted to see what $500 could buy you at the moment &amp; was absolutely appalled by most of the cameos being offered in the $450-500 range on eBay.&nbsp; The only one I saw remotely worth the money is a shell <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/361901050949" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/361901050949" rel="nofollow">Antinous</a>.&nbsp; The added value of this one is that the subject has &#039;gay interest&#039;, giving it a market that extends beyond the cameo market, so in that way probably a better investment if you&#039;re taking potential future resale value into account.&nbsp; I&#039;m a bit surprised this one has not sold yet, although there are various ones based on different sculptures; this girlish looking one may not be the most popular.</p><p><br /></p><p>Asking <i>me</i> whether it is a decent price is problematic in a couple of ways.&nbsp; Both &#039;Nectar&#039; &amp; &#039;nalfie&#039; are people I know.&nbsp; I am trying to be careful not to steer you their way out of bias.&nbsp; The other problem is that I have been absolutely spoiled by having, over time, snagged a number of highly desirable pieces for well under $500, so my sense of &#039;decent&#039; may be distorted.&nbsp; Just because I would not pay this much for it does not mean it is not worth it.</p><p><br /></p><p>&#039;Decent&#039; depends a lot on what your finances permit &amp; how much pleasure the piece would give you, factors I cannot gauge.&nbsp; How does she do on the &#039;How would I feel if..&#039; test?&nbsp; Think it is not likely to get snapped up any minute, that you have some time to consider &amp; do more looking.&nbsp; There is even the possibility Nectar will eventually bring it down a bit.&nbsp; But of course there is still always that other possibility.</p><p><br /></p><p>Can&#039;t tell you what decision to make, but trying to give you some ways to go about making it.&nbsp; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie49" alt=":happy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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