Search 0
4,005  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 0 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
Sorted by
Per page
JOIN AS A SELLER DEALER LOGIN
Selling Antiques Logo
0
Saved
GIFTS
LATEST STOCK
Home
Return
Dealer Login
500+ Shops
Dealers
Newly Added
0
Saved
Antiques dealer?
Join as a Seller
Sort Order
Items Per Page
sellingantiques.co.uk
Browse Categories
Sort order
Relevant Links
Items per page
ID #SA1243717
FOR SALE
£585
Email Phone
Save
Rare 19th-century Shell Cameo of a Renaissance Gentleman, 9ct Gold
For sale by Touch of Time Antiques
for sale €684     $743
£585

Touch of Time Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Apr 2025
Browse dealers 64 items
↓ Relevant Links
Id #SA1243717
PDF SHARE
SAVE

Rare 19th-century Shell Cameo of a Renaissance Gentleman, 9ct Gold

19th century
Description

A finely carved shell cameo depicting a gentleman in Renaissance-style dress. The subject is an uncommon one for cameo jewellery, and the carving is especially striking for its high relief and strong three-dimensional effect.

The cameo dates to the second half of the 19th century. It is set in a later 9ct gold mount bearing Birmingham hallmarks for 1992. The brooch is an attractive, wearable size.

Dimensions: 32 × 28 mm overall; visible cameo 30 × 25 mm.

Materials: shell and 9ct gold.

Condition: Both cameo and mount are in excellent condition. The clasp is in perfect working order.

Date of Manufacture

Touch of Time Antiques has dated this Victorian Shell Cameo Brooch to the Victorian era.

Independent Date Check ID 09706019
Dealer's Item DateVictorian era
Sellingantiques DateVictorian era
Sellingantiques agingItem 135-170 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE VICTORIAN ERA:
Natural growth lines and shell curvature visible on the back: carved sea shell.
High relief carving of a Renaissance portrait: Victorian historicist taste.
Graduated undercutting around the cap and collar: skilled hand craftsmanship.
The 1992 hallmark on the rim: a later gold brooch mount.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1243717
Dealers Notes

Payments:

Purchases can be paid for via bank transfer, PayPal, Stripe or UK personal check and can be made directly through our website by clicking “Buy”, adding item to your basket and choosing your preferred payment option. Our site is using Stripe as a secure and reliable payment provider.

For those looking at the layaway plans an option to use Klarna is now available.

Delivery:

We offer free UK delivery on all our items. Worldwide delivery is also available, please request postage quote to your location. All the purchases are insured and sent via a "Tracked" and/or "Signed For" services.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION for US customers - current tariff charges of 10% must be paid prior to posting. Please get in touch to discuss the details.

Communication:

It’s very important to us to have happy customers, satisfied with the purchases and the service they get, so if you have any queries about the items, any concerns or questions about delivery, payment or care for your purchase, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to help!

Description
A finely carved shell cameo depicting a gentleman in Renaissance-style dress.
“
The subject is an uncommon one for cameo jewellery, and the carving is especially striking for its high relief and strong three-dimensional effect.
Touch of Time Antiques
fig 1. An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim.
fig 1. Rare 19th-century Shell Cameo of a Renaissance Gentleman, 9ct Gold

The cameo dates to the second half of the 19th century. It is set in a later 9ct gold mount bearing Birmingham hallmarks for 1992. The brooch is an attractive, wearable size.

Dimensions: 32 × 28 mm overall; visible cameo 30 × 25 mm.

Materials: shell and 9ct gold.

Condition: Both cameo and mount are in excellent condition. The clasp is in perfect working order.

Date of Manufacture

Touch of Time Antiques has dated this Victorian Shell Cameo Brooch to the Victorian era.

Independent Date Report ID 09706019
Dealer's Item DateVictorian era
Sellingantiques datingVictorian era
Sellingantiques agingItem 135-170 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the Victorian era:
Natural growth lines and shell curvature visible on the back: carved sea shell.
High relief carving of a Renaissance portrait: Victorian historicist taste.
Graduated undercutting around the cap and collar: skilled hand craftsmanship.
The 1992 hallmark on the rim: a later gold brooch mount.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1243717
Touch of Time Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Apr 2025
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Touch of Time Antiques Profile Page

PDF SHARE
SAVE
An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim.
1 / 12
Archive I An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim.

Rare 19th-century Shell Cameo of a Renaissance Gentleman, 9ct Gold

Archive II An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim. View II
Archive III An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim. View III
Archive IV An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim. View IV
Archive V An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim. View V
Archive VI An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim. View VI
Archive VII An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim. View VII
Archive VIII An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim. View VIII
Archive IX An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim. View IX
Archive X An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim. View X
Archive XI An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim. View XI
Archive XII An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim. View XII
Enlarged Archival View

Touch of Time Antiques
Telephone 07593 802248
Location
Nottinghamshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/wwwsellingantiquescouktota
Verified Since Apr 2025
Items For Sale 64
Items Sold 53
Touch of Time Antiques
Verified Since Apr 2025
View Dealer Info
Location: Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/wwwsellingantiquescouktota
Verified
Apr 2025
For Sale
64
Sold
53
An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim.
Rare 19th-Century Shell Cameo of a Renaissance Gentleman, 9ct Gold
Ref: SA1243717
An oval 19th-century shell cameo depicting a relief bust of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted gold rim.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Detail View 7
Detail View 8
Detail View 9
Detail View 10
Detail View 11
Archival Detail

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectBrooches
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian
  • MaterialShell, 9ct Gold
  • ColourBrown and White
  • MotifsRenaissance bust relief, Twisted wire border, High relief carving, Profile portrait

This Victorian brooch is a shell cameo depicting a bust relief of a Renaissance gentleman with a moustache and cap, mounted in a twisted 9ct gold rim. The brown and white shell features a high relief carving with a strong three-dimensional effect, set into a gold mount that bears Birmingham hallmarks for 1992. The overall dimensions measure 32 × 28 mm, with a visible cameo size of 30 × 25 mm. Additional details visible in the photograph include a rope-twist border on the gold mount, the gentleman's ruffled collar and tunic, and a secure pin fastening visible at the back. The brooch is a wearable size for traditional fastening to garments.

FAQs

Shell cameos gained widespread popularity during the 19th century, particularly in the Victorian era. Artisans carved contrasting layers of marine shell to create detailed relief portraits and mythological scenes inspired by Classical and Renaissance art.

Antique cameos are typically carved from natural materials such as helmet shell, conch shell, sardonyx, or agate. These relief carvings are traditionally mounted in precious metal frames made of carat gold or sterling silver.

Authentic shell cameos display subtle natural curved growth lines when backlit and show fine detail under magnification from hand carving. Period pieces feature bezel or claw settings, era-appropriate gold hallmarks, and traditional pin mechanisms.

Antique cameos can be worn on lapels, scarves, and high collars, or displayed safely in velvet-lined shadow boxes and glass dome frames as decorative objects when not in use.

Clean shell cameos gently using warm water and mild soap with a soft brush, avoiding harsh chemicals and steam. To prevent dehydration and cracking of the natural shell material, apply a drop of mineral oil periodically with a cotton swab.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Period
Style
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Recently Added
Online Payments
Categories