Posted 5 years ago
Krsholden
(15 items)
I don’t know anything about cameos and so I generally don’t buy them. I bought this one from an antiques store that was going out of business where it was priced $65 and it was labeled sterling silver- though the only marking on it (pictured) seems to say “ BA800”. I paid just $10 because they were liquidating all of their inventory. Can anyone help me try to date this? Clue me into what “BA800” means? Take a guess about the type of stone it was carved from?- my google search turned up nothing. Many thanks- K
Love it, not sure if this link helps any - but something similar there...and if their attributions are correct there - will help you
https://www.etsy.com/sg-en/listing/632742616/ba-800-silver-abalone-mother-of-pearl?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=ba800+silver&ref=sr_gallery-1-1
The cameo is cut in mother of pearl. I'd guess 1940s/50s. Best guess on the unusual setting is that it is Italian. The BA standing for the province of Bari; 800 the fineness of the silver. Sterling is 925. European countries used to be less demanding about the quality of silver.
What you paid was reasonable. What they had been asking was not.