Buying the Best Cameos

By Jon Kreps

While spotting the cameo design is simple enough thanks to the classic portrait which adorns each piece, assessing value is another problem entirely. When a person knows what to look for, they can find absolute gems out there for pennies on the dollar. One of the easiest ways to identify the valuable pieces is by looking closely at the materials used to create both the portrait and the piece itself. Actually, cameos have been and are currently made from a wide range of materials, including:

Agate

Glass

Bone

Coral

Ivory

Plastic

The truth is, however, that plastic can be made to replicate just about any natural material. The unique and valuable cameos will be carved and made from your better materials while the molded ones are mass-produced knock-offs. Manmade materials are used to create the molded cameos and they will tend to weigh much less than a carved version. Carved versions are typically worth more but some molded cameos made from Bake Lite can actually be more valuable.

For the most part, however, most molded cameos are quite literally a waste of time for the serious collector. Collecting cameos can be profitable when you know what to look for. Collectors can identify glass cameos by looking on the back of the piece for the appearance of mold marks or ridges. Since the carved pieces are where all the money is at, be sure to remember how to identify the imitation pieces.

The materials and time investment needed to create the carved cameos are what makes them more valuable than the molded pieces. Made from things like bone, shell, and even wood, the specific identifying features for carved cameos varies according to the material used when making it. The cheaper plastic versions can be spotted upon close inspection of the portrait and will feature few precise lines and poor detail. The thin back and precise lines are common to most carved cameos but those made from mother of pearl or abalone will actually have a thick, flat back. Many of the finer pieces are carved from agate, a layered substance that produces a brilliant dual-colored effect.

Collectors are well advised to buy carved cameos made from shell, agate, and abalone but they should be especially motivated to find those made from stone. Many glass imitations are specifically designed to mimic a stone cameo so you have to know what to look for. At the junction between the portrait and plaque, there will be a slight concave curve to the back of the portrait creating a slight gap. Stone cameos are perhaps the most likely to appreciate in value and are definite collector's items.

It takes knowledge and experience to really collect cameos for serious profit. If the piece is shiny or seems to have few sharp lines or detail, it is most likely plastic or glass. Abalone, mother of pearl, and some wood pieces will have thick, flat backs while the other carved pieces will tend to be thinner and have undercarving. Investing in vintage cameos can be a great way to have some fun while building a reliable nest egg.

Jon Kreps is a jewelry expert specializing in vintage cameos, Indian jewelry, and authentic costume jewelry. To learn more about cameos or other vintage jewelry, visit http://www.vintagetemptations.com

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