REVIVAL OF THE CAMEO.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11805, 14 December 1912, Page 4 (Supplement)

REVIVAL OF THE CAMEO.

. • The ever-recurring revolutions of fashion's wheel have brought into wear once , again that curiously Victorian - - ornament, the cameo —Victorian at least •ns regards its modern presentment, - what connoisseurs know and regard as a cameo dates "from the be- ■ ginning ot the regal period in the fourth • .'century 8.C., when the introduction of more splendid materials from the East irwas turned to good account by tlie.de- - -■-velopment of the cameo, i.e., of gein earring in relief." The.-i-ameo is the '--converse or the intaglio, which is a sunk ■ - ' or incised engraving. The Victorian cameo can hardly be re-•-garded as a work of art. The stones are --. ? cut in large quantities to be used as •;"'studs, rings, etc., and an extensive trade . -tjs done in Rome and Paris in the cut- '■■■-• 'ting of shell cameos, which are sent to and. mounted as brooches, if pendants, earrings, etc., by the Birmingham jewellers. Both West Indian - and Ei'st Indian "shells are used f«r this purpose, and though fashion may to a - teriain extent t'ive a fresh impetus^to "this" trade, it is more probable tnat - the "genuine antiques" of the Victorian ■ •[era will.be sought for. • A complete parure of cameos was made bj Hancocks (the jewellers) about 1855; - "the set was worn by. the Countess • Granviile, wife of the British Minister to "■i at the coronation of the Czar Alexander • 11. In the diadem is a fine cameo por- .. trait of Queen Elizabeth set in its oriei-•-t nal gold; enamelled locket form. At the 'back are two miniatures, one of the Queen, the other of the Earl of Lei--cester, both by Hiiliard, the royal . - miniature painter, while the cameo is "ascribed -to Coldore, who is known to have made portraits of Elizabeth for. • Henry IV." ■ Among famous patrons of the cameo ■ / were Lorenzo de Medici, "the greatest - _ patron' of arts that., ever lived"; -r-' C»therino do Medici; who brought a fine -a collection of gems and cameos with her to France: Mine', de Pompadour, herself : - - R gem cutter; Mane Aiitionette, Napo- ■ leon and. Queen Victoria —a cameo/was -»Kciit by P'istrucci, chief engraver to the Jtoval Mint, "showing "a young head of Princess Victoria on one side and anvrtther '-f .the same lady as Queen on the irdther."