Cameos have been around since ancient times and are any object that is carved in a bas relief method in other words two thirds round rather that in the round like traditional statues.
The first cameos were in stone, coral, precious gemstones, and ivory.
Later artisans found a layered sea shell called the cassis rufa.
These sea shell cameos are truly a work of art and imagination.
the master works show many layers of carving with trees in the background as in this master carved cameo of Courtiers in a garden.
Although the cameo art is still taught at the Terra del Greco School in Italy. The modern cameo enthusiast is faced with thousands of cameos of blue agate carved by lasers and machines and then a few strokes cut by hand to allow them to say 'hand finished'. These Blue Agate laser cuts from Germany are at times attractive as costume jewelry. However, if you are going to invest in several hundred dollars of costume jewelry why not get actual hand crafted items?
The shell cameos flooding the American market are known as Student Grade "C" class cameos. If they look like ugly women then truly they are. I understand village shops churn them out in assembly fashion about 20 per day.
As far as I can tell I am the only American attempting this ancient artform.If you too carve cameos please let me know!
My Work...
The starting point, the old fashioned way, the shell piece has been formed down to a cameo rough shape (it takes me a full day to cut down a pair of 4- 6 inch cassis rufa shells). From this I get 2 good sized pieces to carve and a few lesser quality(color wise) blanks.
Next the piece is examined for natures imperfections that may impede carving and I begin to plan my composition.
The very hard outer shell is too tough for my current tools so I use a dremel to rough out the first shapes and either remove all color or leave some as suits the design.
Next begins fine detailed chiseling one flake of shell at a time with an xacto knive, a graver(engravers tool), and a weak battery operated engraving tool that I adore at shows.
My first attempts were in Alabaster, then I bought shell. I still use Colorado pink alabaster for amulets and cameos; though colortones are singular as with coral and carnelian carvings; the ancient stone has a very nice feel to it.
It takes me about 3-4 days from first setting on the dop stick to finish on small cameos...larger ones take 5-7 days.
though I double majored in Fine Arts and Archaeology in college in the 70's I have only been carving cameos since January 2001.
My works are all one of a kind heirloom quality. My prices are lower than the competitors prices for blue agate machine made cameos.
As with many individual fine artists it is a case of need to eat versus actual value of the piece. This is the perfect time to collect my work for I feel in the future when I have made my name [and I will practice makes perfect ;0)]
these early pieces will be quite sought after.
Enjoy looking and don't be shy talk to me ask me questions.
That is the way you will come to understand that my work is not just 'hand finished', but ...
Handmade and Heartfelt