History

• Today, cameos are worn almost exclusively by women as jewelry. However, throughout history, men at times wore them as much as or more than women did. In fact, cameos were often used to decorate armor and sword handles. Cameos traditionally have depicted the profiles of women, but in ancient Greece young women wore cameos of the god Eros to encourage declarations of love.
  
  

Function

• Cameos have been largely decorative for many years. In the past they might have been used to depict the image of a loved one before photography was commonly available. Now, they are collector's items, though some people still wear them as jewelry.
  
  

Features

• A cameo is often a carved piece of stone that has multiple layers. The top layer is carved away so that the profile depicted is in the color of the top layer, while a lower layer of a different color serves as the background. Cameos are generally small enough to fit in a pocket or can be worn as a pendant or ring.
  
  

Types

• Coral cameo details easily wear away and should not be worn on a daily basis.
  
  Cameos can be carved out of several substances. Shell cameos are the most common and tend to show the starkest difference between the profile and the background. Lava rock cameos do not have the contrasts that traditional cameos show, and they appear more like miniature busts than cameos. Ivory cameos consist of carved profiles that are fixed to a dark background. Coral cameos are much like lava rock cameos in their lack of color distinction, but they are less common because coral wears away over time. These cameos often do not stay intact as they are passed down.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Many people think that cameos are only antiques and cannot be obtained today except at antique markets and estate sales. While the popularity of the jewelry has waned, cameos are still created using age-old methods in some parts of the world. Many artists create these small pieces of sculpture as a test of their abilities, and they can also be commissioned.
  
  

Warning

• When purchasing a cameo, have an expert appraise the item before you buy it. While real cameos are hard to carve and can be quite expensive, they can also be cast and molded using modern technology. Make sure that your cameo is worth what you pay for it, particularly if you are buying it as an investment rather than a vanity item or accessory.