Victorian Gold Carved Lava Cameo Brooch

No well-to-do Victorian lady's wardrobe was complete without some type of cameo, an accessory which was popularised when wealthy English people brought them home from Italy as souvenirs of their "Grand Tour", particularly once they became a staple of Queen Victoria's dress.

This is a lovely example of a 19th century lava cameo mounted in gold and depicting a figure sensitively carved in high relief. The gold is unmarked but tests as at least nine-carat.

Lava cameos are simple monochrome cameos carved from pyroclastic or igneous rock and dating back to the 17th century. It’s amazing to think that this material was literally thrown out of an erupting volcano more than a century ago! Lava can be quite brittle and as a result fewer lava cameos survive than others as they can shatter easily if dropped.

SIZE: Approximately 3 x 3.5cm.

WEIGHT: 11.0g.

MATERIALS: Gold, volcanic rock.

HALLMARKS/STAMPS: None found.

CONDITION: The cameo is in very good antique condition with normal surface wear for its age, no chips or cracks found. The back of the setting has a large rip, from the front there is a tiny dent on one edge (around the 11 o'clock position) but overall the piece looks in great condition when worn.

ERA: Estimated Victorian (c.1837-1901).

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