Queen Conch Cameo, Flapper Era, Sterling Silver, High Relief Carving, Antique Pendant, 1920s, Repurposed

Most cameo carvers were right-handed, which meant the great majority of portraits face right. A left-facing cameo is the exception, and this one brings an additional distinction: a feathered element tucked into the upswept hair that points toward the 1920s rather than the Victorian era. If the identification holds, this portrait is a flapper, carved in the style of a tradition that was already centuries old by the time she sat for it.

This woman has a long elegant neck and wears draped classical garment, as well as a composed, forward-looking expression. The carving is clean and spare, relying on line and silhouette rather than elaborate detail. Using queen conch shell gives it a near-white ground with the softest blush of pink.

The setting is an elongated oval with a prominent beaded border, giving the piece a strong graphic presence despite its small scale.

Hallmarked Blue Piranha, .925. Dimensions: just under 1 and 1/4 inches (3.2 cm) long from top of bail to bottom of pendant; 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) wide. Weight: 3.7 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.

Good for: the woman who finds the 1920s more interesting than any other decade. For the friend who knows the difference between Art Deco and Art Nouveau, and has opinions about both. For the connoisseur whose jewelry drawer is organized by curiosity rather than category.

Your purchase arrives gift boxed, 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, but some were quietly extraordinary. Those are the ones I kept.

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 carved, though highly regulated - and in some places, prohibited entirely - due to their environmental status.