Antique Carved Shell Cameo & Enamel Conversion Ring

A cameo is a form of glyptography, or bas-relief carving, most often cut into glass, hard-stones, and shells. Artworks were crafted to create two layers on one piece of material, the top of which protruded from its background, creating a multi-dimensional artwork. These detailed reliefs were often used to adorn pieces of jewelry, including brooches, necklaces, bracelets and rings. The earliest cameos took inspiration from prehistoric petroglyphs, which documented important religious and symbolic iconography onto rock faces.

Despite its popularity in previous periods, the most well-known era for cameo collection was the 19th century, inspired by royal cameo collectors Queen Victoria and Emperor Napoleon Buonaparte. Shelled cameos, which depicted these natural and humanistic scenes onto deep-sea shells, became quite popular under Queen Victoria’s reign. Similarly, Napoleon himself founded a Parisian apprentice school to foster the talents of young cameo carvers. 

Cameos have continued to be produced, this one dating approximately to the 1920s. Converted from a stickpin, she has a stylized face and a segmented mint green enameled halo. We have paired her with an antique replica shank that suits her to a tee! The enamel is in pristine condition with no chips, cracks or flea bites, a rarity in antique jewelry! She's the perfect little number to slip on your finger when you want to wear something unique, pretty and nostalgic!

Details (approximate)

Size (can be resized): 8

Weight: 2.5 grams

Materials: Gold, Carved  Shell Cameo, Enamel

Metal: 14K yellow gold

Marks: None

Condition: Excellent converted Antique condition commensurate with age and wear