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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Bronwen, post: 492459, member: 5833&quot;]Welcome, Lucida, to CA (Cameoholics Anonymous).&nbsp; Grab a cup of coffee &amp; join in.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>You are correct that the clasp is 20th century, but everything else about the piece - quality of carving, long pin stem, hinge style - says it was made earlier.&nbsp; From photos provided, replacement looks done very neatly, so may have been changed over to keep the brooch more securely rather than to replace one that snapped off.&nbsp; Clasp replacements are so common, as long as they are not soldered on sloppily, it really does not affect value.&nbsp; What I&#039;m wondering is whether the circled place is just a brace like the others or is a place where a hinged bail has broken off:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]162833[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The darker areas at the back of the neck look like shadows to me:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]162834[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>However, I am concerned about what look like green specks where I&#039;ve circled in green and, to a lesser extent, the dark specks circled in blue:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]162835[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>She&#039;s a lovely Hera, well carved in &#039;lava&#039;.&nbsp; This solidified volcanic ash is porous, so stains readily.&nbsp; When the color is this even, it usually indicates it has been dyed.&nbsp; This is a bad combination for getting lava cameos really clean once soiled or discolored.&nbsp; The enlarged photo makes all these little spots much more conspicuous than they would be to the casual observer.</p><p><br /></p><p>[USER=1496]@Hollyblue[/USER] is our resident jeweller &amp; may have thoughts on the place I&#039;ve boxed in violet, which looks to me like the stone has partially chipped away &amp; the bezel crimped in to compensate.&nbsp; What metal is it represented as being?</p><p><br /></p><p>I think it is well above average as lava cameos go, in an unusually pretty setting.&nbsp; Any condition issues seem minor, although I would want clarification from seller if I were considering buying.&nbsp; Then, depending on price &amp; whether I wanted it for myself or for resale, I might well decide it was worth acquiring.</p><p><br /></p><p>Let us know what you decide.&nbsp; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/smile.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":)" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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