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Cameos are works of miniature sculptural art.
In ancient times the cameo also served as an amulet, a talisman, a storyboard depicting ethics and morals, a tangible affirmation of one's faith, and in some cases a reflection of one's destiny.
The word cameo first appeared in the 13th century and was used to distinguish a gemstone carved in relief or raised above the background of a stone, from a gemstone being engraved "intaglio", in which a design has been engraved into the stone.
The introduction of a very special kind of stone, multilayered sardonyx from India and Arabia, provided inspiration for the cameo. Using one or more layers of the stone in one or more colours, the cameo produced a picture in the light upper layer, which stood out boldly against the darker bottom layer. Most cameos only use 2 layers, but they can have as many as five or more layers of colour.
Queen Victoria of England (1819 to 1901) was fond of the shell cameo and made it fashionable in the 19th century. Their soft, muted colours distinguish shell cameos from hardstone ones. 95% of all the cameos sold in the world today are the work of Italian craftsmen working in shell.
Engravers all over the world admit that nowhere except in Idar-Oberstein, Germany can one learn the craft of hardstone engraving and cameo carving using traditional centuries old methods. Some believe this tradition dates back as early as 50 B.C.
Delicate shell, coral and ivory will dry out and become brittle when exposed to heat for any length of time.
Ultrasonic and clumsy home cleaning with chemicals should not be attempted.
However, if dust is left on the material, it will work deeper into the detail and scratch the surface. After dusting with a soft brush such as an artist's sable brush, rinse the cameo with a minimum amount of tepid water, and gently pat dry with a soft cotton cloth.
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