Notes and peculiarities

Shell cameos are traditionally made in shapes such as oval and round, while more eccentric shapes such as squares, rectangles, triangles, pentagons and hexagons are less common. These unusual shapes often meet the specific needs of goldsmiths and complex jewelry designs, or are used to correct incidental breaks or perforations.

Historically, the artists of Torre del Greco have treated the background of shell cameos in a simple way, using engraving and manual polishing or with the aid of hot acid. Recently, greater attention has been paid to backgrounds with hammered, scratched, nebulous or veiled effects, which not only highlight the sculpted subject but also the context in which it is inserted, especially in scenic cameos.

The value of cameos is a controversial topic, with both commercial and artistic aspects. From souvenir cameos in carnelian of a few dozen or hundreds of euros, you can get to masterpieces of the "masters" that are worth several thousand euros. The price depends on the beauty of the work, the quality of the shell, the name of the artist, the complexity of the scene and the market demand.

Interestingly, cameos are paid to engravers and dealers by the millimeter, measuring the major axis, with a possible addition of a few millimeters for round or square cameos. The main buyers are Japanese, followed by Italians, Germans, English, Spanish and Americans, with particular interest in Cassis madagascariensis cameos.

Note: This information reflects the variety and history of Italian cameos, an art that continues to evolve with new techniques and styles, maintaining its charm and value in the international market.