Description

Beautiful vintage lot of five carved shell cameo brooches and pendants, all featuring classical lady profile portraits in gold-filled settings. The collection includes a variety of frame styles, with several pieces having pendant bails for dual brooch and pendant wear.

Based on design, construction and fittings, these appear to date from approximately the 1950s to 1970s and were produced for the American market. The cameos display attractive layered shell colouring with finely carved details including floral hair adornments, jewellery and classical hairstyles.

Ideal for collectors, resellers, vintage jewellery enthusiasts or for repurposing into new jewellery creations.

Features:

  • Lot of 5 vintage shell cameos
  • Gold-filled settings
  • Classical lady portraits
  • Mixed brooch and brooch/pendant styles
  • Mid-century vintage jewellery
  • USA market pieces
  • Sold as photographed

Please refer to photographs for condition, size and further details.

Description

Lovely collection of five vintage carved shell cameos mounted in gold-filled settings. Each cameo depicts a classical lady profile with distinctive hairstyles and period-inspired detailing. Based on style and construction, these appear to be mid-century pieces, likely dating from the 1950s–1970s.

Included in this lot:

1. Top Left Cameo

  • Oval shell cameo with elaborate curled hairstyle and floral hair ornament
  • Smooth textured gold-filled frame
  • Classical side profile portrait

2. Top Centre Cameo

  • Smaller oval cameo featuring a finely carved bust portrait
  • Decorative flower accent incorporated into the frame
  • Elegant swept hairstyle with ribbon detail

3. Right Cameo

  • Larger oval cameo in a rope-twist style gold-filled frame
  • Portrait looking downward with softly detailed drapery
  • Attractive high-relief carving

4. Bottom Left Cameo

  • Oval pendant-style cameo with suspension bale
  • Profile portrait holding or wearing floral decoration near the shoulder
  • Twisted gold-filled border

5. Bottom Centre Cameo

  • Oval cameo in ornate scalloped frame
  • Flowing windswept hairstyle with strong carving depth
  • Larger statement piece with classic Victorian-revival styling

Condition Vintage pre-owned condition with age-related wear consistent with use. Please examine photographs carefully as they form part of the description.

A beautiful lot for collectors of cameo jewellery, vintage brooches, gold-filled jewellery, or resale.

About Gold Filled Jewellery

These vintage cameos appear to be mounted in traditional American gold-filled settings, a standard commonly used by quality US jewellery manufacturers during the mid-20th century. Gold-filled jewellery is not the same as ordinary gold plating. Under US standards, a genuine gold-filled item contains a mechanically bonded layer of gold over a base metal core, typically representing a significantly higher gold content than standard plated jewellery.

Many vintage American gold-filled pieces from makers such as Krementz, Van Dell and Simmons have survived for decades because the gold layer is substantially thicker and more durable than conventional gold plating.

In contrast, much modern mass-produced jewellery marketed as "gold filled" may simply be gold plated or flash plated, with only a very thin surface coating of gold. Traditional vintage US gold-filled jewellery is generally regarded by collectors as being of higher quality and longer wearing than typical modern plated jewellery.

As always, buyers should review the photographs and any visible markings to make their own assessment of materials and condition.