Italian carvers began to use shells for their creations in the early 1880's. Most commonly, cameos portrayed the faces or images of Romanesque women. Most often they had upswept hairstyles and some were even adorned with jewelry. The cameos usually depicted the portrait of the "idealized" woman or gods and goddesses from mythology.

A fantastic filigree flip pendant from the Late Art Deco (ca1930) era! Set in 14kt white gold, this beautiful piece is comprised of 2 different faces, one a carved cameo and the other a rock quartz crystal. One side portrays a large oval shaped rock quartz crystal plaque with a single diamond set in the center. The diamond is an old Mine Cut stone and is set in a box setting, which is riveted into the center of the plaque. The face of the pendant flips to reveal a feminine cameo with a sandy colored background. The beautiful face of the woman is highly detailed with flowing locks of hair pinned atop her head. Around her neck is a chain and pendant that has a single diamond set within it. The frame of the crystal/cameo is beautifully ornate and detailed with very fine 14kt white gold filigree wirework. The pendant hangs from a complimentary bail, which is stamped “14KT” on the back. It looks stunning on and would make a wonderful addition to any collection!

Measurements: The filigree pendant hangs 2" long, is 7/8" at the widest point and has a depth of slightly more 1/8".

Condition: The overall condition of the pendant is excellent. Besides normal surface wear, there is no apparent damage to rock quartz crystal, the cameo, or to the gold setting and both diamonds are intact. The center piece flips easily and stays securely locked in place.