cblev65252
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posted on October 28, 2005 06:52:57 PM new
I know that this is a very old cameo and that it's set into a modern silver ring. I can't tell what it's made of. I know that it is not glass and it is not plastic. It's one piece. The background is a very pale pink that is transluscent. There are grain marks on the back. Anyone have any ideas? Should I attempt to clean it or leave it as is? The band has a series of hallmarks that I can't make out so I think it may be English. I do know that the cameo wasn't originally in this setting. Sorry about the poor photos. I'm going out of town for the weekend tomorrow morning so I wanted to make this quick!
Cheryl
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parklane64
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posted on October 28, 2005 07:06:58 PM new
Bone, or possibly ivory?
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cblev65252
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posted on October 28, 2005 07:08:53 PM new
Parklane
I was thinking Ivory myself. I just hate to chance a pin test. I wish there was another way to tell. I don't think it's bone, though.
Cheryl
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agate18
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posted on October 28, 2005 07:21:46 PM new
A lot of old cameos were carved from shell
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toasted36
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posted on October 28, 2005 07:23:48 PM new
Have you looked into Angel Skin Coral? They can be pink in color . I sold a angel skin a while back ...dated around the 1930's. I'd ask a jeweler or a antique dealer that sells cameos
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hwahwa
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posted on October 28, 2005 07:42:31 PM new
could be resin.
these are not the grains of elephant ivory.
[ edited by hwahwa on Oct 28, 2005 07:43 PM ]
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davidsmom
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posted on October 28, 2005 09:20:23 PM new
Maybe stone?
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davebraun
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posted on October 28, 2005 09:32:35 PM new
It is shell Probably carved from Cornelian Helmet shell. Most factories for this kind of cameo are in Torre del Greco (Italy). Age is difficult to determine as older pieces and current poduction are similar in workmanship.
I imported many of them in the mid to late 70's
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cblev65252
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posted on October 29, 2005 03:40:28 AM new
It's not resin. This came from the estate of a 90 year old woman. My friend, John, deals in antique jewelry and he said it's quite old. I would have had to left the ring with him to find out exactly what it's made from. Since he's now out of town for the next two weeks, I didn't leave it. Now I wish I had.
It wasn't set when I bought it. I purchased the setting (ring) from my brother a long time ago and he set the cameo into it. I'd say the setting is 1960-ish. Sure wish I could read the hallmarks because that would probably give me a date for the setting.
Dave, you may be right. It most likely is shell. Most likely it is Italian. But, I do know it's far older than the 1970's.
Thanks all! Now, I'm off to my weekend hiking trip in Hocking Hills, Ohio. It should be a perfect weekend for the fall foliage! When you're hiking through this place, you can feel the ancientness of it all. It's like being flung back into medieval times when you're walking through Conkle's Hollow! We've decided to visit each season and get photos. The winter hike is set for February.
Cheryl
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ladyjewels2000
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posted on October 29, 2005 09:39:03 AM new
Cheryl
I would definitely clean it. Use a soft toothbrush and Windex on the cameo - you can leave the silver as it - it looks OK.
Is it just me or does this guy look familiar?? Looks pretty old to me.
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cblev65252
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posted on October 30, 2005 05:43:37 PM new
Ladyjewels
Thank you!! The cameo cleaned up beautifully! He does look familiar to me. Roman?
What a difference, huh?
ID'ing him would sure help. Anyone got any ideas?
Cheryl
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estatesalestuff
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posted on October 30, 2005 05:45:42 PM new
wow ... NOW it's GORGEOUS ... nice "shadow" on the guy and everything ... good job, Cheryl!
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cblev65252
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posted on October 30, 2005 05:51:13 PM new
Could it possibly be Paris of Helen of Troy fame???
Cheryl
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carolinetyler
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posted on October 31, 2005 08:20:26 AM new
That looks wonderful cleaned up! I would have been scared to try it. I sold a bunch of cameos recently, to identify some of the figures I ended up going through an Ebay search of Greek & cameo. It did help when it came to selling if I was able to identify.
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 Caroline
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carolinetyler
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posted on October 31, 2005 08:45:17 AM new
I'm wondering if it's not angelskin coral, it looks very similar to this cameo:
http://cgi.ebay.com/c1900s-10K-ANGELSKIN-CORAL-CAMEO-BROOCH-GREEK-KEY-MTG_W0QQitemZ5043217807QQcategoryZ52561QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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Caroline
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roadsmith
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posted on October 31, 2005 09:10:11 AM new
Just wondering here: I've always thought that cameos were just of women. You all seem to be thinking this one is a man; is it just because of the rather masculine nose and mouth on the person, or are there clues in the hair or headdress that you're working from?
I guess this is either a regular-looking man or a rather homely woman?
______________________________
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
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NEGLUS
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posted on October 31, 2005 09:33:48 AM new
I had the same thoughts too Roadsmith. If it's a woman, she seems to be lacking a bosom
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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sparkz
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posted on October 31, 2005 09:44:43 AM new
<<she seems to be lacking a bosom >>
Neglus...That would give a clue to its age.
Cheryl...Be sure to include "Pre-Maidenform era" in the title and description.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
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NEGLUS
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posted on October 31, 2005 10:12:03 AM new
I think she looks more like a woman now that cleaning (or a good waxing?) took care of the dreaded facial hair problem!
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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ladyjewels2000
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posted on October 31, 2005 10:12:56 AM new
It could be a man or woman if it's really old. In older cameo's the women aren't always attractive - but if it's a women OMG - what a nose???
Cheryl try some research on Italian men as well as Greek. I think he's Italian for some reason - don't know why.
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hwahwa
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posted on October 31, 2005 10:15:44 AM new
the new ones can be dog,horse,cherub.
The lines on the back makes me wonder about the material??what has lines going up and down like that??
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cblev65252
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posted on October 31, 2005 11:05:37 AM new
Caroline
It does look like angelskin coral. I'll have to research more into that.
Man or woman? It really is hard to tell. Could be a very ugly woman with one heck of a nose. Somehow, I think it's a man. Probably Italian or Roman. Men also wore cameos. Napolean wore one.
Cheryl
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cblev65252
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posted on October 31, 2005 11:30:22 AM new
I just got off the phone with my brother's partner who just got back from out of town. Angel Skin Coral is it. This cameo was set into an 18k gold brooch (he thinks Italian) and he judges it to be 1850 or earlier. John decided he wanted the setting for something else and popped the cameo out of it. Oh, I could just shoot him!! Diamonds, Emeralds, Rubies and the like he knows. Cameos and vintage jewelry he does not. He once had the opportunity to purchase a full Haskell parure for $15!!!!! He turned it down. When he told me that, I hit him and not lightly either. In his opinion, the cameo is a woman. The lack of cleavage would suggest a date earlier than 1850 when women used to flatten their chests (I would have been right in style - naturally). LOL!
The ring my brother set it into is a 1960's English Sterling piece. It's a good setting, but I'd so much rather have that 18k brooch!
Cheryl
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toasted36
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posted on October 31, 2005 12:27:17 PM new
See I can be right SOME times lol.I'm glad your brother was able to date it and it is a dang shame they changed the setting .
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cta
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posted on October 31, 2005 07:19:27 PM new
Cheryl, take a look at this website. I found some useful information here when I was doing some research on old cameos. Hope it helps you too.
http://www.cameoheaven.com/tutorial.html
Lynne
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