Cameos can be found at almost any botique country wide. And, while the design has stood the test of time, finding the truly valuable pieces boils down to knowing just a few ways to identify materials and production techniques.
The portrait is the most recognizable feature of the cameo and will typically depict a woman in some form of classic pose. All cameos may indeed feature a portrait but the materials used and the designs depicted can vary dramatically. To separate the low-priced pieces from the valuable ones, you need to look at the materials used to construct the jewelry. Throughout the years, just about every material you can imagine has been used to create the classic portrait central to all pieces, including:
It may sound simple enough to identify only the pieces made out of ivory and other natural materials, but there are a lot of imitators out there made from plastic. The unique and valuable cameos will be carved and made from your better materials while the molded ones are often mass-produced. It is easy to spot the cheaper molded varieties because they will be shiny and be much lighter than a carved version. Molded cameos made from something called Bake Lite, however, can actually command more than some carved versions.
Although there are a few exceptions, molded pieces should actually be avoided at all costs. Be wary of any pieces featuring rounded details or lacking in precise lines as they are most likely molded. Avoid shopping for cameos until you can easily spot the imitations, or you may regret it later. Molded cameos tend to be overvalued while the carved pieces can be found drastically under priced in flea markets or online auction sites.
While collectors would want to find authentic shell cameos at the flea markets, the plastic imitators are so good that it truly takes a trained eye to spot the differences. Shell cameos featuring a pair of colors, precise carving lines, and a thin back will tend to be carved and valuable. The rich detailing and thin back are typical features of carved cameos but those made from Abalone or Mother of Pearl have a thicker, flatter back. Other valuable cameos are carved from Agate, a layered substance which can be identified by its distinctive but beautiful two-toned coloring. The really valuable carved pieces will be made from stone. At first glance, even a stone portrait may appear applied just as would be the case with a glass imitator. But, stone portraits will be slightly concave where they meet the plaque. Stone cameos are perhaps the most likely to appreciate in value and are definite collector's items.
Despite the thousands of imitations flooding the market, there are still plenty of carved cameos out there that are undervalued. Knock-offs will often be lighter, have few crisp lines, and may even have mold marks or dimples on the back of the piece. The carved pieces are indeed rare and the market flooded with plastic and glass imitations, but many flea markets and other venues are still filled with hidden charms. And, even if you don’t collect cameos for profit, what's the harm in selecting pieces that will appreciate in value?
Vintage Costume Jewelry: The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift Or The Start Of A New Hobby?
Mother’s Day is just around the corner already but what do you get the person who already has the fancy watches, diamond earrings, etc?
Finding Valuable Vintage Cameos
Although people tend to think of the cameo as a Victorian design, the fact is that it dates all the way back to the times of ancient Greece. In fact, some believe the enduring nature of the cameo design may be due in part to a dictator named Napoleon Bonaparte.
Warning: That Cameo Might Be Molded!
Don’t even think about buying a cameo before knowing how to tell the difference between the carved and molded versions. Carved cameos will appreciate in value while the molded counterparts will almost certain depreciate.
