Victorian Cameos

Morning Glory
Collects…

vintage
jewelry we enjoy buying, wearing and sharing
Victorian to 1930’s Cameo Jewelry

CAMEO JEWELRY

What is more classic and timeless than a cameo? Though
they pre-date the Victorian era, for the travel-loving Victorians a cameo
was a favorite, possibly representing a meaningful souvenir of a Grand
European Tour. Both men and women wore cameos set as necklaces, brooch,
rings and earrings for women, and watch fobs, rings and stick pins for men.
The Victorian fascination with all things historic is demonstrated in the
classical Greek profiles and mythological motifs. Reflecting the Victorians
love of gardening and nature, floral cameos were also popular. Carved in
seashell, ivory, lava, stone, and jet,
cameos could be set in precious or non-precious metals, some wealthy patrons
even had their own likenesses done.
Although thought of
as primarily an Italian art, there were also cameo carvers in America and
other countries.
Cameos remained popular into the 20th century and were even fashioned using "new"
materials of the 30s and 40s, Bakelite and Lucite..

CAMEO habille of unusually
large 2-1/2" size set in white gold filigree. This beautifully carved lady with
roses in her hair and on her shoulder also wears a diamond necklace,
circa 1900.
View #U25403

VICTORIAN Bohemian
garnets hinged bangle set with a cameo of George Gordon, Lord Byron (English
Romantic
poet and personality, 1788-1824). This unusual cameo bracelet is a
lovely combination of garnet and shell cameo.
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View #V29484

CAMEO
gold tone
swivel brooch with a carved sea shell cameo on the front and a memorial hair compartment on the back, circa 1880, 2".
The frame in which it is set has a lovely scroll design.
View #Q28120

VICTORIAN carved ivory curly
headed cherub face with wings brooch, 2-3/4". A similar brooch can be seen
in a photo of Her Royal Highness, The
Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lorne, Queen Victoria’s 4th daughter. A
similar piece can be seen on page 22 of Bell’s "Collecting Victorian
Jewelry".
View View
View #V29475

CAMEO habille with tiny pink enameled butterflies on
each of the four
corners of the 14k white gold filigree frame, three small diamonds on the
necklace, circa 1900, 1-7/8" by 1-1/2". The sea shell cameo
is a well carved lady with roses in her hair and on her dress.
View #U14728

CAMEO habille brooch
of a lady with flowers in her hair and on her shoulder with aqua blue
enameled butterflies on each side of the14k white gold filigree setting and
a diamond necklace, circa 1900, 1-7/8".
View
View #U23999

CAMEO habille
brooch of a lady with flowers set
in 14k white gold filigree with aqua
enameled butterflies and a diamond bow necklace, circa 1900.
View #UAC

CAMEO 10k yellow gold
filigree shell cameo brooch with pendant loop on the back, 2".
View
View #Q50644

CAMEO white gold
filigree cameo habille with unusually styled diamond necklace and
enameled flowers brooch, circa 1920, 1-7/8".
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View #Q28563

CAMEO
three-quarter profile shell cameo is very deeply carved and the lady’s hair is
beautifully
fashioned
of rose blooms.
View View
#U20324

CAMEO with lovely lady wearing
flowers set in 14k yellow gold with seed pearls surrounding it, circa 1910.
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View #U4001

CAMEO in 14k
yellow gold twist setting. The lady has an anchor motif at her shoulder and a star in her
hair, circa 1910. My Grandfather bought it for Grandmother Agnes when he
was stationed in Italy during WWI.
#Uagnes2

CAMEO lovely lady
wearing flower garland and a strand of pearls, set in 14k yellow gold. My Grandfather bought
it for Grandmother Agnes when he was stationed in Italy during WWI.
#Uagnes1

THREE GRACES
shell
cameo. The Greek goddesses Euphrosyne, Aglaia, and and Thalia,
representative of gentleness and refinement. This cameo set in 18 karat
yellow gold belonged to my husband’s grandmother, and
was purchased in Italy during WWII, circa 1940.
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View #Ualma

Grandmother Alma wearing her large three graces cameo.
View #Ualma2

FLORAL
bouquet shell cameo in a 14 karat yellow gold setting.
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#U20323

Victorian photograph of a young girl wearing an ornate book
chain criss-cross necklace with a cameo and a bar pin, circa 1890.

VICTORIAN gold
filled ornate book chain criss-cross necklace with hard stone cameo, 18" with
2-1/3" front drop, circa 1880. See Christie Romero’s "Warman’s Jewelry,
Edition 2" page 55.
View #V27342

VICTORIAN mother and child. The mother wears a
vulcanite hair comb, a bar pin and a cameo slide necklace and holds a purse.

CAMEO amethyst colored purple glass pate de verre brooch in an
intricate and artistic silver 2-1/2" setting, circa 1900. The setting is
fashioned so that it cleverly holds the high-relief cameo without
prongs. The lady in the cameo is really lovely and serene with a slight
smile and curling hair. The setting has masterful workmanship with a
cross, leaves and tiny flowers made from silver, as well as the collar
she wears with an intricate beaded edge. According to Dictionary.com,
pate de verre is "a decorative glass made in a mold in which powdered
glass of various hues is mixed, blended, and fused. "So far I have only
seen one other similar to this with the well wrought silver setting, and
the other one was a lady being kissing by a bird!

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View #V19519

VICTORIAN
purple glass cameo pendant set in gold with black enameling in
a Greek Key design.
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View #V27565

CAMEO purple amethyst colored glass cameo brooch with silver twist
setting and a flowers, ivy leaves and pearl tiara in hair, star earrings
and a simple necklace, 2".A photograph of a brooch very similar to this
one can be seen in the book, "Baubles, Buttons & Beads- the Heritage of
Bohemia" by Sibylle Jargstorf, page 55. There she dates it to the late
1800’s or early 1900s, and says the amethyst colored glass is from
Gablonz but the intricate silver setting is probably English.

View #Q28484

CAMEO brooch
of lady with flowers in her hair, circa 1930, 2-1/4".
View #Q26364

CAMEO gold tone
3/4" shell cameo set into a 7-1/2" by 3/4" hinged bangle with etched black
motif. View
View #Q28030

STERLING
and coral cameo lorgnette with an ornate highly embossed floral motif, shallow dent on handle,
5-1/4". View
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View #A28049

VICTORIAN carte de visite of a lady wearing a large cameo and a long chain,
2-1/2" by 4". "Lawrie & Mitchell, 25 North Bridge, Edinburgh".
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View #Vkph31

VICTORIAN large cameo of a
Bacchante or Maenad, well carved, stable crack from chin to frame, set in gold oval
brooch with safety chain, 2-1/3" by 2".
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View #V31375

VICTORIAN shell cameos bracelet set in yellow gold filled hollow
links, seven cameos on seven links, 6-1/2" by 1-1/3".
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View #V32049

VICTORIAN shell
cameo of a lady in a landscape set in a gold washed etched and pierced
silver brooch which I had professionally converted from a buckle (see back)
to a more wearable brooch,
3-1/4" by 3". This is a wonderful dramatic size and frame as well as
a lovely scene, a lady posing beside a bridge.
View #V32050

VICTORIAN coral cameo in
gold filled setting sweet little lace brooch, 3/4".
View
#V60624

VICTORIAN lava cameo brooch, an
unusual full face lovely Bacchante looking over her shoulder, set in yellow gold
with pendant loop on back, beautifully carved, 1-5/8" by 1-1/3".
View
View #V32045

VICTORIAN lava cameo brooch,
lovely lady with leaves in her hair in the unusual full-face style,
extremely deeply carved and set in yellow gold, features slightly worn
with age, 1-3/4" by 1-1/2". A similar piece can be seen
on page 140 of Bell’s "Collecting Victorian Jewelry".
View
View #V32046

VICTORIAN lava cameo brooch, unusual
left-facing profile of a Bacchante with grapes in her hair set in a
lovely etched silver frame, 2" by 1-3/4". Beautifully and deeply carved.
View
View #V32047

VICTORIAN unset lava cameo, 1-1/4" by 1-1/8". #V32321

VICTORIAN unset lava cameo, 1-5/8" by 1-1/4". #V32322

VICTORIAN unset lava cameo. #V32321x

LAVA CAMEO
Victorian lava cameo face of a Bacchante bar pin, 10k white and yellow gold filigree, 2".
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View #V50471

VICTORIAN lava
cameo pendant with face of a Bacchante, 1", shown with coordinating bar pin.
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View #V50472

VICTORIAN
lava cameo pendant with lady profile, 1".
View #V25960

VICTORIAN lava cameo ring size
7-1/8, 3/4" across front. View
#V32626

VICTORIAN 14k yellow gold set
shell cameo brooch of a house scene, 1-3/4".
View #Q29662

CAMEO deeply
carved stemmed rose
cameo in gold setting.
View #Q26363

ART NOUVEAU 10k yellow gold
Edwardian cameo lavaliere, 1-1/2" on a 16" 10k chain.
View #Q28511

14K
yellow gold cameo ring. View
#G26362

CAMEO ring
with a long oval shape that is so flattering on the finger. This may
represent the Greek goddess Luna or Diana, goddess of the moon, often
shown with a moon and sometimes, with stars, circa 1910.
View
View #G22928

CAMEO oval
ring with marcasites surround, size 6-3/4.
View #Q26303

VICTORIAN 14k yellow gold
black and white hardstone cameo ring, size 8-1/2.
View #K28039

CORAL 10k
yellow gold ring with coral cameo, 1-1/8" by 1/2" front, circa
1900. A ring like this can be seen on page 65 of Romero’s Warman’s
Jewelry, Ed. 3 on page 65.
View #G50651

VICTORIAN 14k yellow gold
hardstone (agate) cameo ring with diamonds at the top and bottom, size 8-1/4.
View #K28038

CAMEO Victorian
cameo set in gold filled scroll decorated oval with safety chain, 2-1/3".
View #Q29145

CAMEO Victorian shell cameo
stick pin, 7/8" on 3" stick.
View
View #Q28863

CAMEO
in silver filigree setting brooch, 1-1/2".
View #Q26225

GARNET-SURROUNDED CAMEO
with the lovely Classic profile. It is 2-1/3” by 2" and set in 14k gold
with Bohemian garnets. View #U12535

THREE GRACES
shell cameo in twisted 14k+ setting, hinged safety catch with safety
chain, 2 1/4′ by 1-3/4".
#U12534

GRECIAN
lady cameo in profile set in a 2" by 1-3/4" gold filled setting. #U12537

ZEUS AND EAGLE CAMEO in
14k setting with safety chain. Victorian scroll setting encloses a very
high-relief cameo. The shell is extra fine… almost paper thin… and the
carving is unusually deep and detailed.
View
#U12533

IVORY LADY CAMEO
fully carved with a rich old-ivory patina that only comes age. She is a
full figured lady in high relief, set in 14k twisted frame, 1 7/8” x 1 ½”.
Bacchanalia motif in her apron full of grapes and her saucy expression.
View #U12536

CZECH cameo necklace and bracelet.
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U5625

RING 14k yellow gold and carnelian intaglio
ring depicting "Justice" holding her scales, an unusual motif, size 8-1/4
it is 3/4"
at the widest point on the front.
View #G31973

VICTORIAN karat gold and
intaglio signet ring, size 6-3/4, 1/2" front.
View #V29841

CAMEO of pink shell
in etched gold setting brooch. Cracked and re-glued across the cameo.
View #Q29943

VICTORIAN large and unusual shell cameo
of a lady holding a torch set in 10k yellow gold (tested) ring, marked inside "JHW 901 __
core", size
6-1/2.
View
View #G29636

VICTORIAN shell
full-faced lady cameo set in gold filled brooch with safety chain,
1-1/2" by 1-1/4", her nose is worn smooth with age.
View
View #V32079

CAMEO JEWELRY
jet and vulcanite, 1800’s

Old Jewelry

on page 55.
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View #V28825

VICTORIAN shell cameo
set carved jet brooch, circa 1870, 1-5/8".
View #V28766

VICTORIAN Whitby jet hand
carved cameo brooch and earrings matched set in original box, brooch 1-7/8" by
1-1/2", earrings 2-1/8" by 7/8".
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View #V31827

VICTORIAN Whitby jet hand
carved cameo brooch and earrings matched set in original box, brooch 1-7/8" by
1-1/2", earrings 2-1/8" by 7/8".
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View #V31827

VICTORIAN Whitby jet hand carved
cameo bracelet strung on two strands of hat elastic. The back segments are polished convex rounds,
and the front segment is a beautifully carved lady with head dress profile.
Relaxed size is 6-3/4" with front cameo panel 1-1/3" wide and back panels
graduated from 1" down to 3/4".
View
View #V31810

VICTORIAN Whitby jet and cameo brooch, 1-7/8" by 1-1/2".
View #V31295

VICTORIAN Whitby
jet hand carved signed brooch with a pendant loop on the back. Signed jet
pieces are a very rare treasure. The subject is the Madonna with "Ecce Ancilla Domini" (The Annunciation)
lettered on the front, set
in gold tone, 2-1/3". The maker’s signature on the back is hard to
read, but says something like, ""___ John Harland, jet ornament __ made in
Whitby".
View
View #V29163

VICTORIAN Whitby jet and pink shell
cameo brooch, 2-1/8" by 1-7/8".
View
View #V29888

VICTORIAN vulcanite
pendant on original chain, fastened with ribbon, 34" total. 4" pendant and
chain.
View #V27204

VICTORIAN jet setting with a
pink hand carved shell cameo brooch, circa 1870, 1-5/8".
View
View #V29217

VICTORIAN vulcanite
cameo with twisted surround, 2".
View #V27208

VICTORIAN vulcanite pendant
hanging pin with lady cameo, 3-1/3".
View #V27249

VICTORIAN vulcanite 15"
chain with 18" ribbon and 2-5/8" deep relief teardrop shaped cameo pendant,
30".
View #V27246

VICTORIAN vulcanite teardrop
shaped cameo pendant, 1-1/3".
V27238

VICTORIAN
vulcanite cameo pendant, 1-1/2". #V2734

VICTORIAN carved jet
teardrop shaped cameo pendant, small chips on back that do not show from the
front, 2".
View #V27896

VICTORIAN jet carved cameo
pendant, 2". #V27666

VICTORIAN jet and shell carved cameo brooch with Greek key design edge,
2" by 1-3/4". View #V29821

VICTORIAN jet
hand carved cameo tie pin, helmeted warrior, 1" by 3/4" head on a 2-3/4"
stick. View
View #V29905

VICTORIAN jet and cameo
pendant, 1-3/4" by 1-1/8" total.
View #V29851

REFERENCES:

Baird North Company Catalogue, 1913
Daniel Low & Co, 1914
M. Bonn Catalogue, 1927
Cameos, Victorian to Contemporary
Wikipedia, Cameo Types