This highest quality figural scenic shell cameo gold bracelet is in
perfect condition. It dates to the 1870s and is expertly carved. Each
cameo of the six depicts a different exquisitely detailed pastoral
scene. Three cameos feature a woman in period dress. The others feature a
dog, a horse and an elderly fellow with a stick. Each cameo is signed
on the reverse with the maker's initials. When one holds the cameos up
to the light they are beautifully translucent. This is just one sign of
quality. Another sign is the thinness of the cameos. It takes great
skill to produce detailed, deeply dimensional scenes on thin shell.
These cameos are of the finest quality, as is the entire bracelet. It
is rare to find pieces like this intact and in such perfect condition.
So often, fine bracelets were remade into separate brooches or pendants.
This bracelet is also a rare find with regard to the subject
matter of the cameos. The great majority of quality Victorian shell
cameo gold bracelets reflect the tastes of the period and feature the
following... idealized period beauties in profile, gods, goddesses,
nymphs, bacchante, the graces, chariots or other classical scenes. Far
fewer pieces depict simple scenes from country life as here, even though
such scenes were a frequent enough topic for painters of the period. Each
cameo is enhanced, securely held and protected by a beautifully
decorated gold frame. The bracelet is entirely hand made in solid 14
karat yellow gold, as befits the highest quality cameos. Lesser cameos,
the work of journeymen carvers or apprentices, were usually set in
silver, pinchbeck, gold plated silver or base metal. The process used to
decorate the setting here involved etching the gold with mercury vapour
and was a difficult one to master. This etching technique was not in
use for long and is now a lost art. The bracelet is 6 7/8" long
and 1 7/16" wide (174mm x 36mm). There is a hand made box clasp for
secure wear. It weighs 34.43 grams in total. This is one of the
loveliest antique shell cameo bracelets that I have handled. The six
shell cameos are entirely undamaged and still display all the remarkable
artistry, delicacy and detail that they did when first carved, one and
one half centuries ago. This genuinely antique bracelet, the work of a
master craftsman, is of the highest quality and photographs don't really
do it justice. This special piece has been examined by a
professional gemologist and diamond grader, a specialist in antique
jewelry appraisal. It will be delivered with the Certificate of
Appraisal.
Price: $8,600.00
By appointment only
T: 0407242234
admin@ophirjewels.com