Antique Cameo Jewelry

While the exact origin of the first cameo is unknown, the style dates back to ancient Greece and Rome when cameos depicted morals and themes from mythology. Cameos came back into fashion largely through the interest shown in them by Empress Josephine, Napoleon's first wife. Her jewelry collection included several cameo tiaras, one of which is still owned by Sweden's royal family today. Throughout the subsequent generations, the cameo has been transformed into a delicate form of art and treasured piece of jewelry. The antique cameo jewelry we value today usually features intricately carved profiles.Cameos are made from a variety of materials. Mother-of-pearl, coral, agate, and more than 25 types of shells are all commonly used because of the availability and the ease with which they can be carved. Much of the world's hand-carved, antique cameo jewelry comes from the small town of Torro del Greco, located on the Bay of Naples in Italy. The craftsmen in this town use a carving style that dates back thousands of years to create unique, ornate pieces that are used in many forms of jewelry.Cameos are set in a variety of jewelry styles, creating unique pieces that often become family heirlooms. Cameo brooches were a common fixture on the collars of women during the Victorian era. Because many antique cameo brooches often feature both a pendant bale and a pin, many antique cameo necklaces are actually brooches worn on a chain as a pendant. In addition to brooches and necklaces, antique cameos are also used in earrings and rings. Antique cameo earrings are unique because each piece is hand-crafted so the earrings do not always match each other exactly. Traditionally, cameo earrings are crafted in such a way that when they are worn, the two profiles are facing each other.