History Cameo (carving)

1 history

1.1 roman glass cameos
1.2 shell cameos
1.3 cameo subjects
1.4 notable historic cameos

history


woman wearing cameo @ throat, on high lace collar in edwardian style.

sir wallis budge alleged noun cameo apparently comes kame o, word used in kabbalistic slang signify magical square , i.e. kind of talisman whereupon magical spells carved.

cameos worn jewelry, in ancient times used signet rings , large earrings, although largest examples large this, , admired objets d art. stone cameos of great artistry made in greece dating far 3rd century bc. farnese tazza (a cup) oldest major hellenistic piece surviving. popular in ancient rome, in family circle of augustus. famous stone state cameos period gemma augustea, gemma claudia made emperor claudius, , largest flat engraved gem known antiquity, great cameo of france. roman cameos became less common around in years leading 300 ad, although production continued @ reduced rate right through middle ages.

the technique has since enjoyed periodic revivals, notably in renaissance, , again in 18th , 19th centuries. neoclassical revival began in france napoleon s support of glyptic arts, , coronation crown decorated cameos.

in britain, revival first occurred during king george iii s reign, , granddaughter, queen victoria, major proponent of cameo trend, extent become mass-produced second half of 19th century.

the visual art form of cameo has inspired @ least 1 writer of more recent times, 19th-century russian poet lev mei, composed cycle of 6 poems entitled Камеи (cameos, 1861), reflections on each of roman rulers julius caesar nero. in 1852 théophile gautier titled collection of highly polished, lapidary poems emaux et camées (enamels , cameos).

roman glass cameos

during roman period cameo technique used on glass blanks, in imitation of objects being produced in agate or sardonyx. cameo glass objects produced in 2 periods; between around 25 bc , 50/60 ad, , in later empire around mid-third , mid-fourth century. roman glass cameos rare objects, around 2 hundred fragments , sixteen complete pieces known, 1 of dates later period. during period consisted of blue glass base white overlying layer, made during later period have colourless background covered translucent coloured layer. blanks produced fusing 2 separately cast sheets of glass, or dipping base glass crucible of molten overlay glass during blowing. famous example of cameo period portland vase.

shell cameos

although used in roman cameos, earliest prevalent use of shell cameo carving during renaissance, in 15th , 16th centuries. before time, cameos carved hardstone. renaissance cameos typically white on grayish background , carved shell of mussel or cowry, latter tropical mollusk.

in mid 18th century, explorations revealed new shell varieties. helmet shells (cassis tuberosa) west indies, , queen conch shells (eustrombus gigas) bahamas , west indies, arrived in europe. sparked big increase in number of cameos carved shells. conch shells carve well, color fades on time.

after 1850 demand cameos grew, became popular souvenirs of grand tour among middle class.

cameo subjects

classically designs carved onto cameo stones either scenes of greek or roman mythology or portraits of rulers or important dignitaries. in history, agate portrait cameos gifts royalty subjects. these antique cameos, more 2000 years old, either displayed in museums or in private collections.

notable historic cameos

gonzaga cameo

gemma augustea cameo – roman, after 10 ad. two-layered onyx.

tazza farnese ancient hellenistic bowl made of large cameo , purchased lorenzo de medici during italian renaissance.

cup of ptolemies large roman or hellenistic vessel.

portland vase, best known piece of cameo glass.

great cameo of france – roman, c. 23 ad. sardonyx.

gemma claudia cameo – roman, 49 ad. five-layered onyx.

herophiloska cameo – roman, 14 37 ad. portrait of man laurel wreath of emperor tiberius. work signed herophilos dioskourid[ou] ( herophilus, son of dioscorides ). colour of glass intended artist imitate turquoise.

gonzaga cameo ptolemy ii , arsinoë ii. sardonyx. 3rd century bc.

agrippina elder cameo-carved in italy in period of 37–41 ad. carving 3 layer agate.

ptolemaic double cameo-hellenistic, 278–270/269 bc. eleven-layered onyx.

blacas cameo -roman, 20–50 ad. head of augustus carved four-layered sardonyx. fragment of larger portrait of roman emperor-augustus.

head of flora cameo – benedetto pistrucci. 1812 ad. in cameo top red-brown layer has been carved roses. face carved white layer. collector richard payne knight purchased flora cameo italian dealer, believing roman. italian carver pistrucci claimed have carved himself. payne challenged pistrucci carve copy prove claim. ensuing publicity earned pistrucci several commissions.