Critical and up-to-the-minute information for the novice, advanced collector, jewelry dealer, curator and appraiser—for all who buy and sell cameos, or who are just fascinated by them.
Antiques Roadshow Book Club Selection
Since ancient times, cameo making has allowed artists of every era to capture and reflect on the history, literature and lore of their culture. Today, the allure of finely carved cameos is drawing a new generation of both savvy collectors and gifted artists who are captivated by their transcendental elegance.
This first and only comprehensive reference guide offers valuable information on:
Where to successfully hunt for cameos
How to separate old from new, imitation and newer synthetic materials from original shell and stone cameos
How to differentiate between ultrasonically produced and hand-carved cameos
Richly illustrated with many new cameo photographs, this new edition will facilitate the recognition and evaluation of quality in cameos and increase your confidence in buying and selling cameos with:
Key factors for defining value
Information on how to buy cameos from retailers and antique dealers, via the Internet or at auction
A clear explanation of The MasterValuer Program of Quality Ranking that serves as a vital guide for use when evaluating cameos
An extensive review of outstanding contemporary cameo artists throughout the world, their style, subject matter, unique and identifiable techniques, contact information … and more
1108042163
Cameos Old & New (4th Edition)
Newly Updated and Expanded
Critical and up-to-the-minute information for the novice, advanced collector, jewelry dealer, curator and appraiser—for all who buy and sell cameos, or who are just fascinated by them.
Antiques Roadshow Book Club Selection
Since ancient times, cameo making has allowed artists of every era to capture and reflect on the history, literature and lore of their culture. Today, the allure of finely carved cameos is drawing a new generation of both savvy collectors and gifted artists who are captivated by their transcendental elegance.
This first and only comprehensive reference guide offers valuable information on:
Where to successfully hunt for cameos
How to separate old from new, imitation and newer synthetic materials from original shell and stone cameos
How to differentiate between ultrasonically produced and hand-carved cameos
Richly illustrated with many new cameo photographs, this new edition will facilitate the recognition and evaluation of quality in cameos and increase your confidence in buying and selling cameos with:
Key factors for defining value
Information on how to buy cameos from retailers and antique dealers, via the Internet or at auction
A clear explanation of The MasterValuer Program of Quality Ranking that serves as a vital guide for use when evaluating cameos
An extensive review of outstanding contemporary cameo artists throughout the world, their style, subject matter, unique and identifiable techniques, contact information … and more
Critical and up-to-the-minute information for the novice, advanced collector, jewelry dealer, curator and appraiser—for all who buy and sell cameos, or who are just fascinated by them.
Antiques Roadshow Book Club Selection
Since ancient times, cameo making has allowed artists of every era to capture and reflect on the history, literature and lore of their culture. Today, the allure of finely carved cameos is drawing a new generation of both savvy collectors and gifted artists who are captivated by their transcendental elegance.
This first and only comprehensive reference guide offers valuable information on:
Where to successfully hunt for cameos
How to separate old from new, imitation and newer synthetic materials from original shell and stone cameos
How to differentiate between ultrasonically produced and hand-carved cameos
Richly illustrated with many new cameo photographs, this new edition will facilitate the recognition and evaluation of quality in cameos and increase your confidence in buying and selling cameos with:
Key factors for defining value
Information on how to buy cameos from retailers and antique dealers, via the Internet or at auction
A clear explanation of The MasterValuer Program of Quality Ranking that serves as a vital guide for use when evaluating cameos
An extensive review of outstanding contemporary cameo artists throughout the world, their style, subject matter, unique and identifiable techniques, contact information … and more
Anna M. Miller, G.G., RMV, was a jewelry historian, author, lecturer, and instructor. The developer of The MasterValuer Program™, a jewelry appraisal course that has been taught worldwide, she consulted with individuals and companies on buying, selling, appraising and interpreting the jewelry arts. Miller was the author of five books on gems and jewelry, including Gems & Jewelry Appraising: Techniques of Professional Practice, the first comprehensive work about gem and jewelry appraising; and Illustrated Guide to Jewelry Appraising: Antique, Period & Modern (both GemStone Press).
Diana Jarrett, G.G., RMV, an award-winning trade journalist, is a member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA). While studying at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Jarrett began working at Sotheby's Beverly Hills for their important jewels auctions, and at the same time writing for custom jewelry designers.She is a popular speaker on the topics of gems, rare stones and jewelry. Her syndicated column "The Story Behind the Stone" has been a staple in Southern Jewelry News and Mid-America Jewelry News for years. She is a contributing editor for Texas Jewelers magazine, New York Mineralogical Club Bulletin, Colored Stone Magazine, Jewellery Business (Canada), American Gem Society (AGS) and many other trade and consumer publications. Jarrett currently serves as colored gemstone editor for Rapaport Diamond Report. Contact her at info@dianajarrett.com or by visiting her website: www.dianajarrett.com.
C o n t e n t sDEDICATION xPREFACE TO THE 4TH EDITION xiACKNOWLEDGMENTS xv1THE HISTORY AND ROMANCEOF THE GLYPTIC ARTS 1THE EARLIEST ENGRAVINGS 3CLASSICAL GREECE: FROM SCARABOID TO CAMEO 7ROMAN CAMEOS 13THE DARK AND MIDDLE AGES 22THE RENAISSANCE AND LATER 272THE SUBJECTS: MYTHS, LEGENDS,HISTORICAL EVENTS,AND STORIESBEHIND THE JEWELS 37MYTHS AND LEGENDS 38DECIPHERING CUPIDS, CHERUBS, PUTTI, AND PSYCHE 49SYMBOLS 53PORTRAITS 55HISTORICAL EVENTS AND STORIES BEHIND THE JEWELS 56Cameo_4th_text 11/3/08 2:59 PM Page v3CAMEO PRODUCTION 62TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES 62MATERIALS 79THE REEMERGENCE OF COLORED GEMSTONESAND NEW CAMEO MATERIALS 84CARVING CENTERS AND RENOWNED CARVERS 1174DISTINGUISHING OLDAND NEW CAMEOS 130CIRCA-DATING CAMEOS 131UNCOVERING INTENTIONAL CAMEO FAKES, FRAUDS, AND FORGERIES 1555ALTERNATE CAMEO MATERIALSAND CAMEO IMITATORS 171MOUNT VESUVIUS LAVA—THE ITALIAN CAMEO STONE 171GLASS CAMEOS 173CAMEO GLASS 178TASSIE GLASS 181WEDGWOOD 182SULPHIDES 185CAMEO WAX PORTRAITS 185PLASTER OF PARIS AND SULPHUR CASTS 187PLASTIC CAMEOS 191POLYMER CLAY CAMEOS 192RESIN-MADE CAMEOS 192POURED OR MOLDED CAMEOS 193OTHER CAMEO MATERIALS OLD AND NEW 194CONTENTSviCameo_4th_text 11/3/08 2:59 PM Page vi6APPRECIATING CAMEOS AS ART 198EVALUATING THE AUTHENTICITY OF A CAMEO 200SECURING A PROPER APPRAISAL FOR A CAMEO 206ELEMENTS OF VALUE 2167BUILDING A CAMEO COLLECTION 226WHY DOES ANYONE COLLECT ANYTHING? 226BUYING AND SELLING CAMEOS 231CAMEOS AS INVESTMENT GEMS 240CARE AND CONSERVATION OF CAMEOS 2428GREAT AND HISTORIC COLLECTIONS 248HISTORY BEING CARVED TODAY 2679CAMEO ARTISTRY 272KEEPING THE ART ALIVE IN THE UNITED STATES 272KEEPING THE ART ALIVE IN GERMANY 282KEEPING THE ART ALIVE IN PANAMA 294KEEPING THE ART ALIVE IN RUSSIA 297KEEPING THE ART ALIVE IN ITALY 298KEEPING THE ART ALIVE IN TURKEY 300CONTENTSviiCameo_4th_text 11/3/08 2:59 PM Page vii10THE MARKETS FOR BUYING CAMEOS 305BUYING AT AUCTION 305BUYING FROM AN ANTIQUE DEALER 317BUYING NEW CAMEOS FROM THE RETAIL JEWELER 332BUYING CAMEOS VIA THE INTERNET 333BUYING CAMEOS VIA THE TV 34411THE FUTURE OF THE CAMEO 346ESTIMATING CAMEO VALUE: QUALITY RANKING CAMEOS 355CHRONOLOGY OF ENGRAVED STONESAND CAMEOS IN EUROPE 361GLOSSARY OF GLYPTIC-ART AND JEWELRY TERMS 365SUGGESTED READINGS AND BIBLIOGRAPHY