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Important c. 1850 Victorian Lava Cameo Bracelet
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Important c. 1850 Victorian Lava Cameo Bracelet
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This bracelet is composed of eight hand carved high relief Lava rock cameo medallions on silver gilt. Judging by the style and supremely high quality of this lovely piece, it is dated to 1850 or maybe a little earlier. During this time, wealthy Victorians flocked to see the exciting new discoveries being excavated in Pompeii, Italy. These travelers on the "Grand Tour" were eager to have a momento of these discoveries, especially lava cameos that were produced locally by a very few master craftsmen and their apprentices. Carved from the rock created by the volcano, the wearer would have ben thought well-educated, well-traveled and at the height of fashion. But this incredible cameo was no inexpensive tourist piece. This sort of quality would have been well-recognized as such, carved by a master carver, and would have commanded a high price even then.
The portraits of the eight cameos are of famous men of literature, featuring the likeness of Socrates, Chaucer, Shakespeare, John Milton, Lord Byron, etc. Each is a mini masterpiece unto itself, measuring a little over 3/4" X 5/8". The bracelet in its entirity is 8 1/2" long. This cameo bracelet was verbally appraised in January, 2006, by two antique experts as having a market value of around $2500. In the book Collecting Victorian Jewelry by C. Jeanenne Bell, G.G. (2004) t is a similar but lesser quality bracelet with seven lava cameos appraised at $1800 on page 125. Another antique cameo bracelet is illustrated on page 127 featuring six lava cameos of lesser quality than this and appraised at $2100. But I am starting the auction at $895 and t is no reserve. Insured, first class shipping is $15 to anyw in the US. Good luck! 
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