Share your favorites on Show & Tell

WANTED! Cameo experts!

In Fine Jewelry > Cameos > Show & Tell.
Zilla's loves192 of 887Beautiful DresserNew Mexican seed pot, I think? Pueblo? Mata Ortiz?
14
Love it
0
Like it

NewfldNewfld loves this.
ZillaZilla loves this.
JImamJImam loves this.
CaperkidCaperkid loves this.
swampdoggswampdogg loves this.
auraaura loves this.
racer4fourracer4four loves this.
Hel1Hel1 loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
lisalisa loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
officialfuelofficialfuel loves this.
ho2cultchaho2cultcha loves this.
See 12 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 8 years ago

    Kjane79
    (69 items)

    I need help finding out more about this antique cameo. It belonged to my friends' grandma. (my friend is 64 if that helps guess how old Grandma would approximately be.) She doesn't know anything about it, just that her grandma had it as long as she can remember... I've looked and I'd guess maybe 1920 Italian, carved shell... No clue on the metal... The front looks gold to me-no tarnish. But the back is dirty and I don't know. No marks. I've checked everywhere I can think. And the clasp looks to be a newer addition, but I still don't know what it could have been originally? Please help!

    Unsolved Mystery

    Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.

    logo
    Cameos
    See all
    18ct Gold Exceptional Mythical Carved Shell Cameo Large Brooch Boxed, 18k 750
    18ct Gold Exceptional Mythical Carv...
    $327
    Lovely Victorian 18ct Gold Ring w Finely Carved Neptune Head Cameo Q/8 4.7g
    Lovely Victorian 18ct Gold Ring w F...
    $119
    VINTAGE 5 PIECE CARVED SHELL CAMEO RING LOT STERLING SILVER SIZE 4.75 - 10
    VINTAGE 5 PIECE CARVED SHELL CAMEO ...
    $51
    9ct Yellow Gold Carved Shell Cameo Dress Ring Vintage c1960 Birmingham
    9ct Yellow Gold Carved Shell Cameo ...
    $86
    logo
    18ct Gold Exceptional Mythical Carved Shell Cameo Large Brooch Boxed, 18k 750
    18ct Gold Exceptional Mythical Carv...
    $327
    See all

    Comments

    1. Kjane79 Kjane79, 8 years ago
      So, I'm thinking maybe this is the Goddess Diana (Artemis)? But it's definitely not the most flattering representation...
    2. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      Rollover clasps have been around since the 1900s. The cameo is somewhat simply carved. The prongs used to hold the cameo in place look to be of the same material as the pin, hinge and clasp. The mount could be gold filled, rolled gold or what's known as pinchbeck - the Poor Man's Gold. Not really possible to tell from just looking at photos. Diana? Maybe. I didn't find any like this one in a Google Image search.
    3. cameosleuth cameosleuth, 8 years ago
      The underlying image is definitely Diana/Artemis, the crescent moon on her brow says as much. See:
      http://cameotimes.com/index.php/profiles-1/olympian-gods/diana-artemis

      However, the addition of the dove in front of her makes her one confused lady, since among her aspects she is the virgin goddess of the hunt as well as the goddess of the night, while this bird belongs with either Venus/Aphrodite or with Aurora/Eos, goddesses of love & the dawn, respectively.

      The mix & match imagery of the cameo, combined with the rollover safety clasp that opens at the front rather than at the bottom probably puts this to the 1930s, when Grandma was in her 30s or 40s.
    4. Kjane79 Kjane79, 7 years ago
      Sorry for the late response! Thank you to all who helped and loved. The jeweler pretty much agreed with what you all said. One very confused Goddess and no greater than probably 12k, but without a damaging test, it'd be impossible to be exact. I don't think it's SUPER old either, but I do kinda like the confusing aspects of it!

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.