Newly revised & expanded, Cameos Old & New, 2nd Edition meets the rising demand for information about collecting, appraising, buying, & selling cameos. From ancient times to the present, cameos have captivated artists as a unique medium in which to capture & reflect the history, literature, & legends of every age. And today, the allure of the cameo is attracting a new generation of collectors, connoisseurs, artists, & appraisers fascinated by their multidimensional beauty. This new edition of Cameos Old & New provides much new information & 61 new cameo photographs designed to enable the collector, appraiser, dealer, or interested buyer to recognize & evaluate quality & value in cameos, including: * Key factors affecting the value of a cameo * A guide to cameos sold at auction, including photographs & prices * How to buy cameos from the retail jeweler, at auction, or through an antique dealer * Cameo artists today, & how they are keeping the art of cameo cutting alive * And more...

Newly Updated and Expanded Critical and up-to-the-minute information for the novice, advanced collector, jewelry dealer, curator and appraiser—for all who buy and sell cameos, or who are just fascinated by them. Antiques Roadshow Book Club Selection Since ancient times, cameo making has allowed artists of every era to capture and reflect on the history, literature and lore of their culture. Today, the allure of finely carved cameos is drawing a new generation of both savvy collectors and gifted artists who are captivated by their transcendental elegance. This first and only comprehensive reference guide offers valuable information on: Where to successfully hunt for cameos How to separate old from new, imitation and newer synthetic materials from original shell and stone cameos How to differentiate between ultrasonically produced and hand-carved cameos Richly illustrated with many new cameo photographs, this new edition will facilitate the recognition and evaluation of quality in cameos and increase your confidence in buying and selling cameos with: Key factors for defining value Information on how to buy cameos from retailers and antique dealers, via the Internet or at auction A clear explanation of The MasterValuer Program of Quality Ranking that serves as a vital guide for use when evaluating cameos An extensive review of outstanding contemporary cameo artists throughout the world, their style, subject matter, unique and identifiable techniques, contact information ... and more

A distinctive art form appreciated since the days of Alexander the Great, cameos continue to fascinate collectors. Authors Monica Lynn Clements and Patricia Rosser Clements first showcased this fascinating subject in their book Cameos: Classical to Costume. Now they have written a companion guide, Cameos: A Pocket Guide. With over 300 color photographs, this portable guide offers a look at the beauty of finely detailed lava and shell cameos, molded cameo jewelry made from plastics, and glass, and a sampling of pieces fashioned from lesser known materials. Mythological motifs, scenes, and portraits are well represented. The book also includes a brief history of the cameo. Cameos: A Pocket Guide is a necessary addition to the personal reference library of anyone who collects cameos or simply loves the beauty of this timeless jewelry.

Until now, there has been no book available which explains the characters and scenes depicted on nineteenth century cameos, inspired by Greek and Roman mythology. Michele Rowan has produced a fascinating guide to help the reader identify these mythologica

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xiii 1 THE HISTORY AND ROMANCE OF THE GLYPTIC ARTS THE EARLIEST ENGRAVINGS 3 CLASSICAL GREECE: FROM SCARABOID TO CAMEO 6 ROMAN CAMEOS 11 THE DARK AND MIDDLE AGES 19 THE RENAISSANCE AND LATER 23 2 THE SUBJECTS: MYTHS, LEGENDS, HISTORICAL EVENTS, AND STORIES BEHIND THE)EWELS MYTHS AND LEGENDS 33 SYMBOLS 42 vii PORTRAITS 44 HISTORICAL EVENTS AND STORIES BEHIND THE ]EWELS 45 3 CAMEO PRODUCTION TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES 50 MATERIALS 60 CARVING CENTERS AND RENOWNED CARVERS 80 4 DISTINGUISHING üLD AND NEWCAMEOS CIRCA-DATING CAMEOS 92 DETECTING CAMEO FAKES, FRAUDS, AND FORGERIES 113 5 MODIFIED CAMEOS AND CAMEO IMITATORS GLASS CAMEOS 127 CAMEO GLASS 129 TASSIE GLASS 131 WEDGWOOD 132 SULPHIDES 135 CONTENTS viii PLASTIC CAMEOS 135 CAMEO W AX PORTRAITS 136 PLASTER OF PARIS AND SULPHUR CASTS 138 6 ApPRECIATING CAMEOS AS ART ELEMENTS OF V ALUE 149 7 BUILDINGA CAMEO COLLECTION BUYING AND SELLING CAMEOS 162 CAMEOS AS INVESTMENT GEMS 169 CARE AND CONSERVATION OF CAMEOS 170 8 GREAT AND HISTORIC COLLECTIONS 175 ApPENDIX 193 Auctions 193 Glyptic-Arts Booksellers 194 CONTENTS ix Appraisal Associations 194 Retail Sources for Cameos in the Uni ted States 194 CHRONOLOGY OF ENGRAVED STONES AND CAMEOS IN EUROPE 196 GLOSSARY OF GLypTIc-ART AND ]EWELRY TERMS 199 SUGGESTED READINGS AND BIBLIOGRAPHY 205 INDEX 210 CONTENTS x p r e a c e f In several years of studying the cameo and its development, I have interviewed connoisseurs and collectors throughout the United States,

Today, the allure of finely carved cameos is drawing a new generation of both savvy collectors and gifted artists who are captivated by their transcendental elegance. This book offers critical information for the novice, advanced collector, jewelry dealer, curator and appraiser--for all who buy and sell cameos, or who are just fascinated by them.

Revised and updated, Cameos Old & New, 3rd ed., meets the rising demand for information about collecting, appraising, buying and selling cameos. From ancient times to the present, cameos have captivated artists as a unique medium in which to capture and reflect the history, literature and legends of every age. And today, the allure of the cameo is attracting a new generation of collectors, connoisseurs, artists and appraisers fascinated by their multidimensional beauty.