Estate Victorian Carved Conch Shell Cameo with 10 Karat Yellow Gold Bezel

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Estate Victorian Carved Conch Shell Cameo with 10 Karat Yellow Gold Bezel

About the Item

This is a Rare, Victorian, hand carved, Estate Cameo. Hand Carved Conch Shell, Gorgeous Profile of a Woman with Long, Beautiful Curls in her hair! The 10 K yellow Gold Bezel is beautifully engraved! One could easily add a Bale to this brooch so it could convert to a pendant as well, if you so desired! This Piece is from a large collection from a very large estate. The pieces were priced according to material, subject matter, detail, size and workmanship of carving. All are hand carved and NOT laser cut. This is a very fine, prestigious collection. This piece has a bale and can be worn as a brooch or a pendant. time period is the 1860's to 1910. Per the Extasia Website:"The Victorian the era officially starts in 1837 with the coronation of a very young Queen Victoria. It ends with her death at the age of 82, in 1901. This woman LOVED jewelry. She designed it, wore it, and gave it as gifts through the rise of British Global Empire, the inception of the industrial revolution, and the reaction to mass production that gave birth to the Arts and Crafts Movement (1870-1914). Her passion and preferences fueled the talents of the jewelry trade of London her whole life, most markedly upon the death of her beloved husband, Albert. At the beginning of the 1800s a single hand carved semi precious gem Intaglio or Cameo was an extremely rare and treasured possession. It was about then, 1807 or so, that shell cameos experienced a resurgence. Conch shell cameos were still carved by hand, mostly by artisans along the Italian coast. They grew in popularity partially because the relative ease of carving shell over stone opened up a whole new level of artistry. It also allowed for production carving, which was faster, more formulaic. The end result was a cameo that was both affordable and beautiful. It became the perfect token of that Victorian tradition of the "Grand Tour" ? a trip often taken by the upper classes of the Northern climes of Europe to experience the art and culture and mild climate of Italy and Greece. They would return from their journey with Italian carved shell cameo necklaces, rings, and earrings, or the even more highly coveted lava stone cameos, carved out of the earthy colored lava from the base of Mt. Vesuvius."

Metal:
10k Gold
Weight:
9.6 g
Dimensions:
Width: 1.25 in (31.75 mm)Length: 1.75 in (44.45 mm)
Style:
Victorian
Place of Origin:
Unknown
Period:
Mid-19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
unknown
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Birmingham, AL
Reference Number:
Seller: 250-008451stDibs: LU54235387682