Shell cameo jewelry: a traditional must-have for milady

This 14K gold and diamond tennis-themed shell cameo achieved $5,500 plus the buyer’s premium in August 2018. Image courtesy of Dan Morphy Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
This 14K gold and diamond tennis-themed shell cameo achieved $5,500 plus the buyer’s premium in August 2018. Image courtesy of Dan Morphy Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
This 14K gold and diamond tennis-themed shell cameo achieved $5,500 plus the buyer’s premium in August 2018. Image courtesy of Dan Morphy Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — Among the most classic pieces in the realm of jewelry is the elegantly simple cameo. Typically featuring portraits of women or mythological scenes, cameo jewelry has been carved for centuries out of hard natural materials such as stone, but shell cameos might be the most beautiful examples of the form.

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