Cameos are a form of carved jewelry that go back as far as ancient Greece (around 6th century BC). Cameos are usually created with two separate materials; one being a precious stone (used as the background) and the other being a portrait, scene or bust from a stone or other material that is less precious and easier to find. Although women are typically those who are remembered for wearing cameos as jewelry, men have been noted throughout history for wearing them as well, such as Napoleon Bonaparte.
The 19th century was an extremely popular time for the cameo during the reign of Queen Victoria. At that time, cameos were often created with seashells rather than precious stones or gems. These cameos were fastened into pins, earrings, necklaces and even lockets. During the Victorian Era (1837-1901), the popularity of the cameo rose and stayed a constant throughout most of the Edwardian Era (1901-1910).
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Often, cameos were a status symbol for individuals within society, and would sometimes depict busts of great rulers or gods and goddesses. These beautiful pieces of jewelry are still highly sought after, and can be found in a range of materials, sizes, shapes and colors.
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