Cameo Material is Selected
Cameos have been carved for thousands of years, and are one of the most beautiful, individual and sought-after pieces of jewelry. Historically, many different materials were used for cameos, including conch shell, sardonyx, coral, agate, jasper and lava. Today, the most popular cameo materials are conch shell and agate. Richly colored pieces of shell or stone are used to give the cameo layers of different colors when carved.
Material is Cut
Once a cameo material is selected, it is cut, shaped, smoothed and attached to the end of a wooden stick for easier handling by the artist.
Sketch is Drawn
The artist draws a sketch of the subject onto the cameo material. Popular subjects for cameos are women in profile, angels, Greek mythology, animals and flowers.
Carving Begins
The artist begins carving, usually under natural window light. Several different tools are used for carving, from small dental drills and ultrasonic tools, to traditional wood and metal carving tools known as "bulino." A cameo carved "in relief" is what we normally see today, meaning the subject is raised. A cameo carved "intaglio" refers to one that is recessed.
Cameo is Cleaned and Framed
The finished cameo is cleaned with oil and placed into a precious metal frame. It can take an artist anywhere from a few days to a few months to finish carving a cameo. No two hand carved cameos are alike and antique ones are highly collectible. The more intricate the scene, the more costly the cameo.
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