Description

Antique Cameo Stick Pin

c. 1890

A jewelry gift is always a good gift, if you ask me. But even better when it’s being handed down within the family. This antique cameo stick pin has quite the history and I love that it was gifted from one family member to another (even if they did have the gold karat weight wrong). There’s something sweet about a little note with a heartfelt message and some provenance.

What We Love About It:

Antique Cameo Stick Pin

I’ve been a fan of cameos since a family friend gifted me one decades ago. Actually, my affinity for them started just before that, because I’d always admired her collection. One day she let me choose one and I still have it. There’s something about the craftsmanship of the carvings. I always wonder who the folks in the carvings were and who carved them.

The Deets:

The right facing cameo, carved from conch shell, is set within a 10kt yellow gold bezel (yes, I know that the note says 18kt on it, but the pin in both stamped and tests as 10kt – maybe someone needed a stronger eyeglasses prescription?) with a 10kt pin. The stopper/catch is a replacement and appears to be made of base metal. The pin measures 2.5″ from end to end and 9./16″ in width, at the widest point and it weighs 2.3g. It could also be made into a pendant or a ring, easily. Message me if you’d be interested in converting it. 

Should we give her a name and a story or just leave our carved lady’s history to…. well…. history?