Monday, March 17, 2008

Cameo Appearance



"The most popular cameos today are carved in sea shells, a tradition that began in the fifteenth or sixteenth century and was popularized by Queen Victoria of England. Since that time, cameos have predominately showcased women's profiles, and been worn by women who enjoy the beauty and craftsmanship of hand-carved cameos.

Yet cameos have not always been decorative jewelry for women. In fact, at different points in history they have been worn as frequently by men. While the birthplace of the cameo was nearly 300 years before the birth of Christ in Alexandria, Egypt, cameos owe their origins to ancient carving traditions. As far back as 15,000 BC, petroglyphs — figures carved into rock — were used to record significant events and communicate information. In ancient times people used cameos to depict an ethic or moral, or to make a statement about their faith or loyalties."


-From Cameos Old & New by Anna M. Miller

I love the look of vintage cameos. Unfortunately I do not have the means to actually own an antique since they run from several hundred dollars to several thousand, like this lovely Italian cameo which costs close to a thousand dollars:



But there's a lovely site which sells antique reproduction Victorian style faux cameos at really, really affordable prices called Jewelrymine.com as well as other reproduction jewelery. I especially love this pin:



Not bad-looking for less than $20!

Or how about this necklace, also for less than $20:



And I really like this contemporary-looking pin from Puchimaiko.



Great way to dress up an outfit!

0 cheer(s)!: