What is the diference between a cameo, an intaglio, and a reverse carved cameo?
Melissa writes in a recent comment
I am curious, do you know, or how do you tell, if a glass cameo is an Intaglio cameo. I have a glass cameo that I have had for a number of years, and have been wondering about it all the time...
A cameo is carved generally from shell or certain types of stone. The portrait usually of a lone woman or a female bust is carved in relief from a background of another color. Below is an antique shell cameo I sold last year on eBay.
An intaglio- which is sometimes called an intaglio cameo is where the carving is below the background. The background is higher and the design or portrait is sunken lower into the medium usually glass. The intaglio came before the cameo and is based on the practice of stamping papers with a wax seal. Think of the process. The wax is dribbled on the paper and then you place the seal on the wax thereby making a raised impression. If you take an intaglio piece of jewelry you could theoretically do the same- although cleaning the wax off it could be messy.This cameo below is done intaglio style and although hard to tell you would be able to stick your finger into the impression of the woman's portrait.
A reversed carved piece of jewelry, sometimes referred to as a reversed carved cameo is when the design work is carved into the back of the the glass piece. The design work is then seen from the front which is a smooth surface. It may be a little hard to tell but this is currently my only example in my inventory of a reverse carved piece of jewelry. The design in this stick pin was carved from the back and the front is a smooth glass surface.
I hope this helps illustrate the differences.
- Michelle
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