Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is presented with the Pocahontas Cameo created by the Cameo Artist Gareth Eckley.
Cameos Old & New 4th Edition. The definitive guide to the History of Cameos. Gareth Eckley is featured inside.
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The earliest known use of shell for cameo carving was during the Renaissance, in the 15th and 16th centuries. Before that time, cameos were carved from hardstone. The Renaissance cameos are typically white on a grayish background and were carved from the shell of a mussel or cowry, the latter a tropical mollusk.
In the mid 18th century, explorations revealed new shell varieties. Helmet shells (Cassis tuberosa) from the West Indies, and queen conch shells (Strombus gigas) from the Bahamas and West Indies, arrived in Europe. This sparked a big increase in the number of cameos that were carved from shells. Conch shells carve very well, but their color fades over time.
After 1850 demand for cameos grew, as they became popular souvenirs of the grand tour among the middle class.
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Creating Unique Custom Jewelry for 29 years. Portrait Cameos © Copyright 2010 Gareth Eckley.
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