Vintage Bliss / Antique Collectible Jewelry / Antique Cameos

Antique Cameo Jewelry

Antique Cameo Jewelry is a beautiful and unique option if you love them and are thinking of investing in vintage and antique jewelry. A cameo, by definition, is a shell or stone with an image carved into one side or the other of the stone. A relief cameo is carved so that you can see only one side of an image (typically the front or a profile). An Intaglio cameo is one that is carved from behind the picture or profile.

Cameo Appearance in History

Historians believe that cameos first appeared in Greece and Rome, very likely as some sort of magical charm to afford protection. In part this belief has to do with the popular base material – agate, which was often carried as an amulet. Shell cameos appeared on the scene much later, but were also more easily carved. By this time Italy had become the center of hand made cameos, and it remains a very important region for keeping this historical art alive because they use the ancient techniques.

Another center for cameo design is in Germany. While the Italian cameos are predominantly made from over 20 types of coral and shell, the German ones are made from dyed agates and gemstones.

Shopping for Antique Cameo Jewelry

A lot of modern jewelry making techniques create very appealing cameos but they are not the ones you want for investing.

The first stop in shopping for vintage cameos is teaching yourself the difference between coral or shell and plastic. A plastic cameo comes from a mold. Sometimes you can even see the mold line depending on the setting. A molded cameo will be far less expensive than a real one.

Here are some other tips that should help you determine quality cameos whose value will appreciate over the years:

• Full image cameos, or ones that feature more than one image have a higher value and tend to appreciate more readily
• Keep a list of predominant names in cameo carving for the era in which you’re interested (many artists signed their figures on the back of the cameo)
• While some vintage brass jewelry isn’t appealing, brass set cameos are a good investment
• Theme collections of cameos seem to appeal to buyers greatly. Find a subject that you like then shop accordingly.
• Watch for the words “deep cameo” or “ultra cameo” – these terms reflect a cameo with great contrast and value.
• Avoid cameos with any crack or stress lines. This hurts the value of the item as an investment (its fine for a piece you may just want to enjoy).
• When you start getting into high end cameos try to deal with someone who certifies the items (you want this for peace of mind and so you can insure the jewelry).

Cleaning Antique Cameo Jewelry

Once you find a cameo or a collection that you love, you’ll want to keep it clean to show off the image at its best. Most experts suggest using modern electric jewelry cleaners as these may damage your cameo. Instead use a polishing cloth for the metal portion of the cameo first, getting it as clean as possible.

Next, grab a tube of toothpaste and a soft tooth brush. Gently scrub the surface using warm water. When you’re happy with the results, rinse and let dry thoroughly.

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