Carved Shell Cameo, Antique Cameo Pendant, Woman's Profile Cameo, Left Facing Cameo, Queen Conch Shell, High Relief Cameo Carving

A beautiful and unusually left-facing cameo, showing hints of the soft pink of her queen conch shell material, and wearing an elaborate updo. 

Carved from queen conch shell, which allows for much higher relief against the soft shell coloring. Framed by a delicate dotted border. 

Queen conchs are found in the Caribbean, the Florida Keys, and Bermuda. They're currently listed as endangered and are protected in certain areas. They are currently still harvested and carced, though highly regulated - and in some places, prohibited entirely - due to their environmental status.

The pendant suspends from a handmade bail that will accommodate a variety of wearing options. 

Materials: sterling silver, shell. Hallmarks: Blue Piranha, .925

The pendant measures 1 and 3/4 inches, or 4.5 cm, long (from top of bail to bottom of pendant), and 3/4 inch, or 1.9 cm, wide. Weight is 6.6 grams.

Each pendant is available without a chain, so you may use your own if you prefer. If you want to add a chain, I offer different lengths and styles. Every chain comes with a 2-inch extender, so you can vary the length. 

Please choose your chain from the options at checkout.

Your purchase will arrive gift boxed, presented in a soft pouch with a story card.

Questions? Please message me. I'm happy to help.

About cameos:

Cameos have been carved for thousands of years, falling in and out of fashion since ancient Greece, while the Victorian era gave them their biggest cultural high point.

Cameos are carved from shell but they can also be created from glass, hardstone (such as sardonyx), lava, vulcanite, and coral, as well as other materials. Hand-carving continues today, most famously in Italy, where the tradition is still very much alive. The cameos I work with came from an antique market, found loose and in varying condition. Some were chipped and some were quietly extraordinary. Those are the ones I kept.