Modern cameos Cameo (carving)

1 modern cameos

1.1 ultrasonic machine carved cameos
1.2 hand-worked portrait cameos
1.3 shell cameos

modern cameos

many modern cameos carved layered agates. layers dyed create strong color contrasts. usual colors used two-layer stones white on black, white on blue, , white on red-brown. three-layer stones made. colors black on white on black. layers translucent; allows artist create shading effects removing material allow background layer show through. way realistic, lifelike quality figure can achieved. example, thinning top black layer on three-layer stone changes color shades of brown. removing material white layer creates shades of blue or grey, depending on color of base.

ultrasonic machine carved cameos

the majority of modern agate cameos carved aid of ultrasonic mill. process multiple copies of master design can produced pressing master die onto agate cameo blank. film of diamond slurry used aid cutting , die vibrates ultrasonically in vertical motion. master hand carved skilled cameo artist. result cameo has satin surface texture described freshly fallen snow (ffs) anna miller. texture , lack of undercutting used appraisers markers prove cameo machine-made.

hand-worked portrait cameos

these cameos carved hand, working photographs of subject. fact there 1 copy made means tooling costs involved rule out ultrasonic carving process.

there few people working in field, 1 of hardest challenges gemstone carver. combination of highly developed artistic ability, craft skill , many years of experience needed able create lifelike portraits.

it quite rare, these days, subjects other portraits carved hand agate cameos. traditional themes of classical scenes mythology or standard image of young lady, more made of ultrasonic carving machine limited collection of typically 50–200 pieces.

shell cameos

a cameo carved dorsum of shell of tiger cowry, cypraea tigris

since late 19th century, species used in good-quality cameos has been cypraecassis rufa, bullmouth helmet, shell of can 6 inches long. in species, upper shell layer whitish, , lower shell layer rich orange-brown. modern sources shell madagascar , south africa. finest hand-carving of these shells takes place in italy.

the highly prized shell carving emperor or queen s helmet shell, cassis madagascariensis. shell has white , dark brown layers , known sardonyx shell, , looks similar layered agate known sardonyx. shell found in waters of caribbean.

cameo carved on cassis madagascariensis ascione manufacture, 1925, naples, coral , cameo jewellery museum ascione

the world center cameo carving in shell torre del greco, italy. shells first marked series of ovals in process called signing, cut oval blanks cameo carver. actual cameo cut metal scraping tool called bulino, invention of jewish artisan antonio cimeniello. number of metal gravers used: flat-faced, round , three-cornered. speed production, grinding wheels used remove excess material. when details completed, shell soaked in olive oil, cleaned soap , water , selectively polished hand brush.