Italian carvers began to use shells for their creations in the early 1880's. Most commonly, cameos portrayed the faces or images of Romanesque women. Most often they had upswept hairstyles and some were even adorned with jewelry. The cameos usually depicted the portrait of the "idealized" woman or god's and goddesses from mythology.

This gorgeous large shell cameo brooch is hand carved and from the Victorian (ca1880) era. Set in an ornate 14kt yellow gold bezel setting, the beautiful face of the Victorian woman is highly detailed. The curls in her hair flow down the side of her face and lay upon her chest. Carved roses rest on her shoulder and add to the beauty of the lovely feminine folds in her dress. The cameo rests in a beautiful gold frame that is surrounded by an ornate wire work border of small hearts. It is enhanced with flowers across the top, bottom and on either side of the cameo. This exquisite brooch would make a lovely addition to any collection!

Measurements: The cameo measures approximately 2 1/4" long and approximately 1 3/4" wide. The overall measurement of the brooch is approximately 2 5/8" long, approximately 2" wide and 1/2" deep.

Condition: The overall condition of the brooch is excellent. There is no apparent damage to the cameo or the gold. The clasp fits snug and secure and is in good working condition.