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 or various chariot 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 lovliest 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.
Please note these are natural shell cameos, shell is a natural gem material and it grows in a layered manner with natural growth features of the natural shell. Some of the natural growth features of the shell can and should be expected to be seen on the reverse and are present this is not a defect and there is no damage whatsoever. These are not hardstone cameos they are natural beautifully carved shell cameos of exceptional fineness.
The bracelet in good condition all links secure, cameos intact and there are no repairs to the exceptional gold elements and fittings. It is ready to gift, to display or to wear.
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.
The photos form part of the description. Like all colored stones there is a color variation that occurs in different lighting conditions both inside but also outside, even the time of day can make the color of a stone appear a little different. We do our best to show colors as we see them. Color perception is highly individual and some people can perceive more colors than others, also colors can appear somewhat different on different screens and devices due to variations in screen hardware and device display settings.
