The Everlasting Charm of The Cameo
Sabrina Easley
14kyg Victorian Carved Agate Cameo Convertible Brooch / Pendant
The term “cameo” refers to a style of raised relief carving with a contrasting background. Shells and striated gemstones offer an excellent canvas, giving way to different layered colors as the material is carved away, allowing clear relief images to appear. Cameos have been found in several forms, from vases to perfume bottles to pieces of furniture.
Of course, we will be focusing on one of the more classically recognizable, and wearable, forms: brooches and jewelry.
How Far Back Does the Art of the Cameo Go?
Until just around the 5th century BC, most carved gemstones were done in a sunken relief style, typically referred to as an “intaglio”. Intaglios don’t necessarily incorporate shells or gems with contrasting colors, relying on the carved indentation to bring the image forward. We start to find the relief style of carving that is associated with cameos during the time of the Hellenistic Greeks.
Art Deco 18kyg Carved Shell Cameo Brooch Depicting Athena, c. 1890
As this art form gained traction, cameos made a fairly large appearance during ancient Greek and Roman periods, sporting various mythological and personal figures. Wealthy Romans often wore cameos to show their religious or political affiliations while advertising their fortunes and good taste.
During the medieval period, a time of intense spirituality, cameos often featured various religious figures. Large cameo collections have been found in the treasuries of medieval churches and monasteries, from those featuring religious figures to more classical cameo carvings.
The Many Resurgences of The Cameo
Cameos faded from popularity for quite some time, but they have enjoyed many resurgences throughout history.
Ceramic Wedgewood Cameo
In the 18th and 19th centuries, at the height of Neoclassicism, cameos thrived. Throughout this period of recreating and reviving ancient art forms and styles, cameos often continued to reflect mythological beings, landscapes, or the profiles of young women. Some wealthy patrons would commission cameo artists to sculpt portraits of loved ones, but this was less common.
Currently, in our modern era, there is an overarching nostalgic sentiment, with people gravitating towards movies, songs, and fashion styles that give them a sense of comfort. As the cameo has dipped in and out of style through the ages, this everlasting art form brings with it that echo of nostalgia. We are starting to see interest in the cameo on the rise once more, with one even being featured in Ralph Lauren’s latest fall spread in Elle’s October 2026 issue.
If you have been interested in the cameo, then you’re in luck!
For the entire month of October, Landmark Jewelers will have the largest cameo collection you’ve ever seen! From costume pieces to fine jewelry, rings to brooches, we will have a variety of shapes, sizes, materials, and colors for you to explore. Be sure to stop in for this phenomenal display of a beloved historic craft before October ends!