A gold-toned oval brooch with a carved ivory cabochon featuring a classical bust, displayed on the pages of an open vintage book with a black-and-white illustration.

Vintage Carved Shell Cameo Brooch, Classical Female Portrait, Plain Gold-Tone Bezel Setting, Prong-Set, Unmarked, Mid Century Italian Style

£78.00
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A gold-toned oval brooch with a carved ivory cabochon featuring a classical bust, displayed on the pages of an open vintage book with a black-and-white illustration.
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  • A gold-toned oval brooch with a carved ivory cabochon featuring a classical bust, displayed on the pages of an open vintage book with a black-and-white illustration.
  • A gold-toned metal brooch with a circular cutout and textured inner band, displayed on an open vintage book page with printed text and an illustration of a winged creature.
  • An oval gold-toned cameo-style brooch or pendant featuring a carved ivory portrait, photographed close up on a dark brown textured surface.
  • Gold oval brooch with a cream-colored center and a visible pin clasp, photographed close-up on a dark brown textured surface.
  • A gold-toned oval brooch with a carved ivory cabochon featuring a classical bust, displayed on the pages of an open vintage book with a black-and-white illustration.
  • A gold-toned metal brooch with a circular cutout and textured inner band, displayed on an open vintage book page with printed text and an illustration of a winged creature.
  • An oval gold-toned cameo-style brooch or pendant featuring a carved ivory portrait, photographed close up on a dark brown textured surface.
  • Gold oval brooch with a cream-colored center and a visible pin clasp, photographed close-up on a dark brown textured surface.
Vintage Carved Shell Cameo Brooch, Classical Female Portrait, Plain Gold-Tone Bezel Setting, Prong-Set, Unmarked, Mid Century Italian Style

Vintage Carved Shell Cameo Brooch, Classical Female Portrait, Plain Gold-Tone Bezel Setting, Prong-Set, Unmarked, Mid Century Italian Style

£78.00
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Description

Carved by hand. The tool marks are still there if you look.

A vintage carved shell cameo brooch in a plain gold-tone bezel setting: the cameo a genuine hand-carved shell in warm cream-honey tones, the relief portrait carved from the upper layer of the shell against the softer ground beneath. This is a single-tone shell rather than the strongly contrasting two-layer type, giving the piece a quieter, more muted warmth. The carving is the point: a classical female portrait facing right, hair elaborately dressed with tight curls or ringlets piled at the crown, the bust draped in a classical garment. The tool marks are clean and deliberate, the face and neck well defined, the drapery lines precise. This is hand-carved Italian shell cameo work at a quality consistent with mid to late 20th century production.

The setting is a plain oval gold-tone bezel with a flat polished rim and four small prong tabs securing the cameo at the corners — minimal and unfussy, keeping the focus on the carving rather than the mount. The reverse carries a crossed-bar brooch fitting with a rolled-pin and simple catch mechanism, intact and functional. No hallmarks. Unmarked throughout.

The Particulars:

  • Type: Genuine hand-carved shell cameo brooch
  • Cameo: Single-tone carved shell; warm cream-honey; classical female portrait facing right; ringlet crown hair; draped bust
  • Setting: Plain oval gold-tone bezel; flat polished rim; four prong tabs; open back
  • Fitting: Crossed-bar brooch fitting to reverse; rolled-pin and catch; intact and functional
  • Condition: Very good. Shell clean, no chips or cracks visible; carving crisp; setting and fitting intact. Please review all photos carefully before purchasing.
  • Period: Mid to late 20th century
  • Origin: Likely Italian
  • Maker: Unmarked

Someone carved this from a shell with small tools and patience. It has lasted. It will last longer.

Arrives carefully wrapped as a vault relic.

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