The miniature sculpture called cameo has been enjoyed for centuries. As a matter of fact, cameos have been traced back to Rome dating from 6 BC.

Cameos come in two style; the shell cameo and the hardstone cameo. Both cameos are sculpted masterpieces, but each one can be sculpted in very different ways.

The shell cameo being much softer than the stone cameo is always sculpted by hand. Most hardstone cameos are now sculpted ultrasonically from a hand carved masterpiece.

Among the shell cameos there are different kinds of seashells that are selected, such as the Sardonyx, the Carnelian, and the Mother-of Pearl.

The Sardonyx being the most resistant and the thickest shell makes cameos carved from it more expensive than cameos made from other shells. The carnelian with a reddish-brown or orange shades is the most used shell for cameo carving. The Mother-of Pearl produces a muted pale blue cameo.

Unfortunately, there is also the “plastic fake cameo”. Those fake cameo are mostly made in China and can fool an untrained eye. If you have a cameo that you would like to know the real value of, you need to have it expertize by a cameo expert. If you don’t mind ruining your plastic cameo, you can do the “hot needle” test. If the spot touch by the needle melts its plastic. If nothing happens to your cameo, it’s real!